President of Laos

The President of the Lao People's Democratic Republic is the head of state of Laos.

For the de facto leader of Laos, see General Secretary of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party.

President of the Lao People's Democratic Republic ປະທານປະເທດ ແຫ່ງ ສປປ ລາວ Président du Laos
National Emblem of the Lao People's Democratic Republic
Incumbent Bounnhang Vorachith since 20 April 2016
Appointer	National Assembly
Term length	Five years
Inaugural holder	Prince Souphanouvong
Formation	2 December 1975
Deputy	Vice President of Laos
Salary	1,170,000 Kip per month[1]

Powers

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.

The head of state is the commander-in-chief of the Lao People's Armed Forces. Since Laos is a one-party state, with the Lao People's Revolutionary Party being the sole party allowed by the constitution, all the presidents of the People's Democratic Republic have been members of the party while holding office.

The current president is Bounnhang Vorachith, since 20 April 2016. He is also the General Secretary of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party, making him ranked first in the Politburo hierarchy.[2]

Office

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.

Key

Political parties

•   Lao People's Revolutionary Party

List of presidents

No.	President		Term of office			Political party		Prime minister (Tenure)
	Portrait	Name (Lifespan)	Took office	Left office	Time in office
1		Prince Souphanouvong ສຸພານຸວົງ (1909–1995)[lower-alpha 1]	2 December 1975	15 August 1991	15 years, 256 days		Lao People's Revolutionary Party	Kaysone Phomvihane (1975–1991)
—		Phoumi Vongvichit ພູມີ ວົງວິຈິດ (1909–1994) Acting President[lower-alpha 2]	31 October 1986	15 August 1991	4 years, 288 days		Lao People's Revolutionary Party
2		Kaysone Phomvihane ໄກສອນ ພົມວິຫານ (1920–1992)	15 August 1991	21 November 1992	1 year, 98 days		Lao People's Revolutionary Party	Khamtai Siphandon (1991–1998)
3		Nouhak Phoumsavanh ໜູຮັກ ພູມສະຫວັນ (1910–2008)	25 November 1992	24 February 1998	5 years, 91 days		Lao People's Revolutionary Party
4		Khamtai Siphandon ຄຳໄຕ ສີພັນດອນ (born 1924)	24 February 1998	8 June 2006	8 years, 104 days		Lao People's Revolutionary Party	Sisavath Keobounphanh (1998–2001)
								Bounnhang Vorachith (2001–2006)
5		Choummaly Sayasone ຈູມມະລີ ໄຊຍະສອນ (born 1936)	8 June 2006	20 April 2016	9 years, 317 days		Lao People's Revolutionary Party	Bouasone Bouphavanh (2006–2010)
								Thongsing Thammavong (2010–2016)
6		Bounnhang Vorachith ບຸນຍັງ ວໍລະຈິດ (born 1938)	20 April 2016	Incumbent	4 years, 119 days		Lao People's Revolutionary Party	Thongloun Sisoulith (2016–)

Notes

1. Simultaneously served as the President of the Supreme People's Assembly from 1975 and 1988, and as the President of the Lao Front for National Construction from 1979 to 1986.
2. Acting for Souphanouvong. Simultaneously served as the President of the Lao Front for National Construction.

Living former presidents

• 
  Khamtai Siphandon
  served 1998–2006
  born 1924 (age 96)
• 
  Choummaly Sayasone
  served 2006–2016
  born 1936 (age 84)

See also

• List of monarchs of Laos
• Prime Minister of Laos

References

1. (in Japanese)Bouangeun Ounnalath. "Comparison on Salary System for Government between Lao PDR and Japan" (PDF). Retrieved 18 July 2019.
2. "Ruling communists in Laos promote VP as country's new leader", Associated Press, 22 January 2016.