Sam Rainsy is the President of the Cambodia National Rescue Party, a Member of Parliament and leader of the national opposition of Cambodia. His political career began with Prince Ranariddh’s Funcinpec Party, becoming the Prince’s European representative in 1989. He had previously served as Minister of Finance in a coalition government that emerged in Cambodia after the UN-supervision elections in 1993, and was a Member of the Supreme National Council of Cambodia from 1992 to 1993.
In 1995 he formed the Khmer Nation Party, which became the current Sam Rainsy Party (SRP) when it was forced to change its name in order to contest the 1998 elections, where he was re-elected to the Parliament. In 2006, Liberal International awarded him with the Prize for Freedom honoring his dedication to championing human rights, democracy, and the rule of law.
Prior to his entry to politics he was a financial analyst and investment manager with various banks and financial institutions, positions which included chairman and chief executive officer of DR Gestion, a Paris-based investment company and Bank Director at Paluel-Marmont. Sam received his MBA from INSEAD Paris.
Sam served as CALD Chair from 2000-2002 and once again from 2012-2014.
