Yem Sambaur was a Cambodian politician, and prime minister from 1949-50.

Yem Sambaur was once a commissioner of the police and a member of the Cambodian Democratic Party, from which he defected along with 11 other deputies in November, 1948. He then formed a coalition government

Coalition government

A coalition government is a cabinet of a parliamentary government in which several political parties cooperate. The usual reason given for this arrangement is that no party on its own can achieve a majority in the parliament...

 with Liberal party deputies, who were supported by the French

Colonial Cambodia

In 1863, Cambodia under king Norodom became a protectorate of France. In October 1887, the French announced the formation of the Union Indochinoise , which at that time comprised Cambodia, already an autonomous French possession, and the three regions of Vietnam...

.

After a political scandal

Political scandal

A political scandal is a kind of political corruption that is exposed and becomes a scandal, in which politicians or government officials are accused of engaging in various illegal, corrupt, or unethical practices...

 involving fishing licenses, Sambaur and his supporters toppled the ruling government and in January 1949, on the recommendation 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...

, was appointed Prime Minister

Prime Minister of Cambodia

The Prime Minister of Cambodia , is the head of government of the Kingdom of Cambodia. Prime Minister is appointed by the King under Article 119 of the Constitution and is responsible for leading the government of the Kingdom.-Constitutional powers:The powers of the Prime Minister are established...

.

During his term, he was opposed by the Democrat

Democratic Party (Cambodia)

The Cambodian Democratic Party was a left-leaning, pro-independence political party formed in 1946 by Prince Sisowath Yuthevong, who had previously been a member of the French Section of the Workers' International....

 led Assembly

National Assembly of Cambodia

The National Assembly of Cambodia or Radhsphea is the lower house of the Parliament of Cambodia.It has 123 members, elected for five year terms by proportional representation, using provinces as constituencies of 1 to 18 members, and the D'Hondt method of seat distribution.-Elections:Summary of the...

, eventually getting the King to dissolve it in September 1949. However, elections following it were repeatedly postponed, and Sambauer ruled by decree

Rule by decree

Rule by decree is a style of governance allowing quick, unchallenged creation of law by a single person or group, and is used primarily by dictators and absolute monarchs, although philosophers such as Giorgio Agamben have argued that it has been generalized since World War I in all modern states,...

. He continued to support efforts by Shihanouk to gain concessions from the French and move towards independence.

Sambaur resigned in early 1950.