Chea Sim is a Chinese Cambodian

Chinese Cambodian

Chinese Cambodians are Cambodian citizens of Chinese descent. "Khmer-Chen", is used for peoples of either mixed Cambodian & Chinese descent or people of whom are Cambodian born citizens with Chinese ancestry;...

 (with roots from Chaozhou

Chaozhou

Chaozhou is a city in eastern Guangdong province of the People's Republic of China. It borders Shantou to the south, Jieyang to the southwest, Meizhou to the northwest, the province of Fujian to the east, and the South China Sea to the southeast...

) politician

Politician

A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...

. He was the President of the National Assembly from 1981–98 (Vice President from June–October 1993) and is currently the President of the Senate

Senate of Cambodia

The Senate of Cambodia is the upper house of the Parliament of Cambodia.According to the , The Senate is a body that has legislative power and performs its duties as determined in the constitution and law. The Senate consists of 58 members that the number of which does not exceed half of all of...

 (1999–).

Biography

Chea Sim was born on November 15, 1932 in Romeas Hek, Svay Rieng Province, Cambodia.

From April 6, 1992 to June 14, 1993, he served as the nation's interim leader (Chairman of the Council of State

Council of State

The Council of State is a unique governmental body in a country or subdivision thereoff, though its nature may range from the formal name for the cabinet to a non-executive advisory body surrounding a head of state. It is sometimes regarded as the equivalent of a privy council.-Modern:*Belgian...

) before Cambodia became a constitutional monarchy

Constitutional monarchy

Constitutional monarchy is a form of government in which a monarch acts as head of state within the parameters of a constitution, whether it be a written, uncodified or blended constitution...

.

He also acted as Head of State on behalf of King

King of Cambodia

The King of Cambodia is the head of state of the Kingdom of Cambodia. The King's power is limited to that of a symbolic figurehead to whom people are to give love and respect...

 Norodom Sihanouk

Norodom Sihanouk

Norodom Sihanouk regular script was the King of Cambodia from 1941 to 1955 and again from 1993 until his semi-retirement and voluntary abdication on 7 October 2004 in favor of his son, the current King Norodom Sihamoni...

 for brief periods in 1993, 1994, 1995, and 2004. After the King announced his permanent abdication

Abdication

Abdication occurs when a monarch, such as a king or emperor, renounces his office.-Terminology:The word abdication comes derives from the Latin abdicatio. meaning to disown or renounce...

 on October 7, 2004, Chea Sim once again became acting Head of State. He left that position on October 14, 2004 when Norodom Sihamoni

Norodom Sihamoni

Norodom Sihamoni is the current reigning King of Cambodia. He is the eldest son of Norodom Sihanouk and Norodom Monineath Sihanouk. Previously Cambodia's ambassador to UNESCO, he was named by a nine-member throne council to become the next king after his father Norodom Sihanouk abdicated in 2004...

 became king.

Sihanouk awarded Chea Sim the honorary title of Sâmdech in 1993. Chea Sim is a member of the Cambodian People's Party

Cambodian People's Party

The Cambodian People's Party is the current ruling party of Cambodia.This party was formerly known as Kampuchean People's Revolutionary Party...

.