Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen lashed out at critics Thursday for questioning high-level appointments bestowed on his children, denying that the promotions were part of a strategy to “strengthen power”, Agence-France Presse reports. Two of Hun Sen’s sons are high-ranking members of the military. His youngest son is a member of parliament and chairs a parliamentary commission on youth and sport, while his son-in-law is a high ranking police officer. In a recent interview with Japanese news agency Kyodo, Hun Sen publicly suggested that his eldest son, Hun Manet, could succeed him as leader of Cambodia.

Hun Sen reportedly said Manet would be a “possible future leader” of the Kingdom.