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
Incumbent
Bounnhang Vorachith
since 20 April 2016
AppointerNational Assembly
Term lengthFive years
Inaugural holderPrince Souphanouvong
Formation2 December 1975
DeputyVice President of Laos
Salary1,170,000 Kip per month[1]
Laos
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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

See also

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.
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