President of Laos explained

Post:President
Body:the Lao People's Democratic Republic
Native Name:Lao: ປະທານປະເທດ ແຫ່ງ ສປປ ລາວ
Insignia:Emblem of Laos.svg
Insigniasize:105px
Insigniacaption:National Emblem
Flag:Flag of Laos.svg
Flagcaption:National Flag
Incumbent:Thongloun Sisoulith
Incumbentsince:22 March 2021
Nominator:Lao People's Revolutionary Party
Nominatorpost:National Assembly delegates
Appointer:National Assembly
Department:
Style:His Excellency
Type:Head of state
Member Of:
Residence:Presidential Palace, Vientiane
Seat:Vientiane
Deputy:Vice President
Constituting Instrument:Constitution of Laos
Termlength:Five years, no term limit
Inaugural:Souphanouvong
Salary:1,170,000 Kip per month[1]

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, and may serve no more than two terms consecutively. A candidate must receive at least two-thirds support from lawmakers present and voting in order to be elected.[2]

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

PortraitName
Term of officeElectionPrime minister(s)
Took officeLeft officeTime in office
1Souphanouvong
Lao: ສຸພານຸວົງ
2 December 197529 October 1986NoneKaysone Phomvihane
Phoumi Vongvichit
Lao: ພູມີ ວົງວິຈິດ
29 October 198615 August 1991NoneKaysone Phomvihane
2Kaysone Phomvihane
Lao: ໄກສອນ ພົມວິຫານ
15 August 199121 November 19921991Khamtai Siphandon
3Nouhak Phoumsavanh
Lao: ໜູຮັກ ພູມສະຫວັນ
25 November 199224 February 1998NoneKhamtai Siphandon
4Khamtai Siphandone
Lao: ຄຳໄຕ ສີພັນດອນ
24 February 19988 June 20061996Sisavath Keobounphanh
2001Bounnhang Vorachith
5Choummaly Sayasone
Lao: ຈູມມະລີ ໄຊຍະສອນ
8 June 200620 April 20162006Bouasone Bouphavanh
2011Thongsing Thammavong
6Bounnhang Vorachit
Lao: ບຸນຍັງ ວໍລະຈິດ
20 April 201622 March 20212016Thongloun Sisoulith
7Thongloun Sisoulith
Lao: ທອງລຸນ ສີສຸລິດ
22 March 2021Incumbent2021Phankham Viphavanh
Sonexay Siphandone

See also

References

Bibliography

Books:

Journal articles:

Report:

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Comparison on Salary System for Government between Lao PDR and Japan . Bouangeun Ounnalath . 2019-07-18.
  2. Web site: Lao People's Democratic Republic 1991 (rev. 2015). constituteproject.org. 18 August 2024.