| President of the Lao People's Democratic Republic | |
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| ປະທານປະເທດ ແຫ່ງ ສປປ ລາວ | |
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| Style | His Excellency |
| Type | Head of state |
| Member of |
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| Residence | Presidential Palace,Vientiane |
| Seat | Vientiane |
| Nominator | Lao People's Revolutionary Party |
| Appointer | National Assembly |
| Term length | Five years, renewable once |
| Constituting instrument | Constitution of Laos (1991) |
| Inaugural holder | Souphanouvong |
| Formation | 2 December 1975 (49 years ago) (1975-12-02) |
| Deputy | Vice President |
| Salary | ₭1,170,000 monthly (US$53)[1] |
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 Laos portal |
Thepresident of the Lao People's Democratic Republic is thehead of state ofLaos. The current president isThongloun Sisoulith, since 22 March 2021. He was previously elected as theGeneral Secretary of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party, Laos' most powerful position in January 2021, ranking him first in thePolitburo.
The office of the President of the People's Democratic Republic traces its lineage back to PrinceSouphanouvong, the first President of the People's Democratic Republic, a member of the deposedroyal family and one of theThree Princes, who became President when the formerKingdom of Laos was overthrown by thePathet Lao in 1975, at the end of theLaotian Civil War.
The president is elected by theNational 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]
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 theprime minister,vice president, ministers and other officials with the consent of the National Assembly. Additionally, the President is thecommander-in-chief of theLao People's Armed Forces.
However, as Laos is aone partycommunist state, the highest and most powerful political position is theGeneral Secretary of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party, not the President. The general secretary controls thePolitburo and theSecretariat, Laos' top decision-making bodies, making the officeholder asde 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.
| No. | Portrait | Name (Birth–Death) | Term of office | Election | Prime minister(s) | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Took office | Left office | Time in office | |||||
| 1 |  | Souphanouvong ສຸພານຸວົງ (1909–1995) | 2 December 1975 | 29 October 1986 | 10 years, 331 days | None | Kaysone Phomvihane |
| – |  | Phoumi Vongvichit ພູມີ ວົງວິຈິດ (1909–1994) Acting | 29 October 1986 | 15 August 1991 | 4 years, 290 days | None | |
| 2 |  | Kaysone Phomvihane ໄກສອນ ພົມວິຫານ (1920–1992) | 15 August 1991 | 21 November 1992 | 1 year, 98 days | 1991 | Khamtai Siphandone |
| 3 |  | Nouhak Phoumsavanh ໜູຮັກ ພູມສະຫວັນ (1910–2008) | 25 November 1992 | 24 February 1998 | 5 years, 91 days | None | |
| 4 | .jpg) | Khamtai Siphandone ຄຳໄຕ ສີພັນດອນ (1924–2025) | 24 February 1998 | 8 June 2006 | 8 years, 104 days | 1996 | Sisavath Keobounphanh |
| 2001 | Bounnhang Vorachit | ||||||
| 5 |  | Choummaly Sayasone ຈູມມະລີ ໄຊຍະສອນ (born 1936) | 8 June 2006 | 20 April 2016 | 9 years, 317 days | 2006 | Bouasone Bouphavanh |
| 2011 | Thongsing Thammavong | ||||||
| 6 | .jpg) | Bounnhang Vorachit ບຸນຍັງ ວໍລະຈິດ (born 1937) | 20 April 2016 | 22 March 2021 | 4 years, 336 days | 2016 | Thongloun Sisoulith |
| 7 | | Thongloun Sisoulith ທອງລຸນ ສີສຸລິດ (born 1945) | 22 March 2021 | Incumbent | 4 years, 250 days | 2021 | Phankham Viphavanh |
| Sonexay Siphandone | |||||||
Books:
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)Journal articles:
{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)Report:
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)Heads of state of Laos | |
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| Kingdom of Laos Kings (1945–1975) | .svg) |
| Lao People's Democratic Republic Presidents (1975–) | |
* acting for Souphanouvong | |