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President of the Lao People's Democratic Republic
Flag of Laos.svg
Emblem of Laos.svg
National Emblem
Thongloun Sisoulith (2023) (cropped 2).jpg
Incumbent
Thongloun Sisoulith

since 22 March 2021
  • Executive branch of the State
  • Office of the Presidency
Style His Excellency
Member of
  • LPRP Central Committee
  • LPRP Politburo
  • LPRP Secretariat
  • LPRP Defence Commission
Residence Presidential Palace, Vientiane
Seat Vientiane
Nominator Lao People's Revolutionary Party
Appointer National Assembly
Term length Five years, no term limit
Constituting instrument Constitution of Laos
Inaugural holder Souphanouvong
Formation 2 December 1975
(49 years ago)
 (1975-12-02)
Deputy Vice President
Salary 1,170,000 Kip per month

The president of the Lao People's Democratic Republic is the head of state of Laos. The current president is Thongloun Sisoulith, since 22 March 2021. He was previously elected as the General Secretary of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party, Laos' most powerful position in January 2021, ranking him first in the Politburo.

History

Background

The office of the President of the People's Democratic Republic traces its lineage back to Prince Souphanouvong, the first President of the People's Democratic Republic, a member of the deposed royal family and one of the Three Princes, who became President when the former Kingdom of Laos was overthrow by the Pathet Lao in 1975, at the end of the Laotian Civil War.

Duties and rights

Term limits

The president is elected by the National Assembly for a term of five years, with no term limits. A candidate must receive at least two-thirds support from lawmakers present and voting in order to be elected.

Role and authority

The president represents Laos internally and externally, supervises the work as well as preserving the stability of the national governmental system and safeguards the independence and territorial integrity of the country. The President appoints the prime minister, vice president, ministers and other officials with the consent of the National Assembly. Additionally, the President is the commander-in-chief of the Lao People's Armed Forces.

However, as Laos is a one party communist state, the highest and most powerful political position is the General Secretary of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party, not the President. The general secretary controls the Politburo and the Secretariat, Laos' top decision-making bodies, making the officeholder as de facto leader of Laos. However, the offices have been held concurrently for most of the time since 1998. As such, the president derives most of his power from his post as general secretary.

Since Laos is a one-party state, all the presidents of the People's Democratic Republic have been members of the party while holding office.

List of presidents

No. Portrait Name
(Birth–Death)
Term of office Election Prime minister(s)
Took office Left office Time in office
1 Souphanouvong1978.jpg Souphanouvong
ສຸພານຸວົງ
(1909–1995)
2 December 1975 29 October 1986 10 years, 331 days None Kaysone Phomvihane
No image.png Phoumi Vongvichit
ພູມີ ວົງວິຈິດ
(1909–1994)
Acting
29 October 1986 15 August 1991 4 years, 290 days None Kaysone Phomvihane
2 Kaysone Phomvihane 1978.jpg Kaysone Phomvihane
ໄກສອນ ພົມວິຫານ
(1920–1992)
15 August 1991 21 November 1992 1 year, 98 days 1991 Khamtai Siphandon
3 No image.png Nouhak Phoumsavanh
ໜູຮັກ ພູມສະຫວັນ
(1910–2008)
25 November 1992 24 February 1998 5 years, 91 days None Khamtai Siphandon
4 The Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh meeting with the President of Laos, Mr. Khamtay Siphandone at Vientiane in Laos on November 29, 2004 (cropped).jpg Khamtai Siphandone
ຄຳໄຕ ສີພັນດອນ
(born 1924)
24 February 1998 8 June 2006 8 years, 104 days 1996 Sisavath Keobounphanh
2001 Bounnhang Vorachith
5 Choummaly Sayasone in Russia head pic.jpg Choummaly Sayasone
ຈູມມະລີ ໄຊຍະສອນ
(born 1936)
8 June 2006 20 April 2016 9 years, 317 days 2006 Bouasone Bouphavanh
2011 Thongsing Thammavong
6 Bounnhang Vorachith 2016 (cropped).jpg Bounnhang Vorachit
ບຸນຍັງ ວໍລະຈິດ
(born 1937)
20 April 2016 22 March 2021 4 years, 336 days 2016 Thongloun Sisoulith
7 Thongloun Sisoulith (2023) (cropped 2).jpg Thongloun Sisoulith
ທອງລຸນ ສີສຸລິດ
(born 1945)
22 March 2021 Incumbent 3 years, 277 days 2021 Phankham Viphavanh
Sonexay Siphandone

Timeline

Thongloun Sisoulith Bounnhang Vorachit Choummaly Sayasone Khamtai Siphandone Nouhak Phoumsavanh Kaysone Phomvihane Phoumi Vongvichit Souphanouvong

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Presidente de Laos para niños

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