Laos, officially the Lao People's Democratic Republic, is a socialist state and the only landlocked country in Southeast Asia. At the heart of the Indochinese Peninsula, Laos is bordered by Myanmar and China to the northwest, Vietnam to the east, Cambodia to the southeast, and Thailand to the west and southwest. Its capital and largest city is Vientiane.
Prince Souphanouvong, nicknamed the Red Prince, was along with his half-brother Prince Souvanna Phouma and Prince Boun Oum of Champasak, one of the "Three Princes" who represented respectively the communist (pro-Vietnam), neutralist and royalist political factions in Laos. He was the President of Laos from December 1975 to August 1991.
The Laotian Civil War (1959–1975) was a civil war in Laos which was waged between the Communist Pathet Lao and the Royal Lao Government from 23 May 1959 to 2 December 1975. It is associated with the Cambodian Civil War and the Vietnam War, with both sides receiving heavy external support in a proxy war between the global Cold War superpowers. It is called the Secret War among the American CIA Special Activities Center, and Hmong and Mien veterans of the conflict.
Nouhak Phoumsavanh or Phoumsavan was a longtime Pathet Lao revolutionary and communist party official who was the 3rd President of Laos from 1992 to 1998.
Bryan Thao Worra is a Laotian American writer. His books include On The Other Side Of The Eye, Touching Detonations, Winter Ink, Barrow and The Tuk Tuk Diaries: My Dinner With Cluster Bombs. He is the first Laotian American to receive a Fellowship in Literature from the United States government's National Endowment for the Arts. He received the Asian Pacific Leadership Award from the State Council on Asian Pacific Minnesotans for Leadership in the Arts in 2009. He received the Science Fiction Poetry Association Elgin Award for Book of the Year in 2014. He was selected as a Cultural Olympian representing Laos during the 2012 London Summer Olympics. He is the first Asian American president of the international Science Fiction and Fantasy Poetry Association, and the first Laotian American member of the professional Horror Writers Association.
The Prime Minister of the Lao People's Democratic Republic, formerly the chairman of the Council of Government of the Lao People's Democratic Republic, is the head of government of Laos. The highest position in the government, they direct the country's executive branch. The prime minister is accountable to the president, the National Assembly and the country's only legal party: the Lao People's Revolutionary Party (LPRP). The current prime minister is Phankham Viphavanh, who was elected in 2021.
The National Assembly is the unicameral parliament of Laos. The National Assembly meets in Vientiane.
The Royal Lao Government in Exile (RLGE) is a Laotian government in exile opposed to the Lao People's Democratic Republic. It purports to seek to institute a constitutional monarchy in Laos that ensures freedom, justice, peace, and prosperity for the Lao people.
Phoui Sananikone locally known as Phagna Houakhong was a politician and served as Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Laos from 1950 to 1951 and 1958 to 1959. Since entering government service he had held virtually every top position in the Lao cabinet. The majority of his work as politician concerned the independence and sovereignty of Laos in Southeast Asia, especially in regards of the western-oriented neutrality policy during the height of the Indochina Wars.
The Constitution of Laos specifies the functions and powers of the government of the Lao People's Democratic Republic, and defines the rights and duties of Laotian citizens. The constitution was adopted on August 14, 1991, sixteen years after the 1975 establishment of the Republic, a period during which the country functioned without a written constitution or published penal and criminal codes. It consists of a Preamble and Articles, and legally establishes a set of authorities that resemble the traditional differentiation among executive, legislative, and judicial branches of government.
Lieutenant General Samane Vignaket was a Vietnamese descent-Laotian national politician, Minister of Education, Head of Party Central Committee Organization Board, Vice Minister of Defense, Director of the General Political Bureau, President of the National Election Committee for the National Assembly Fourth Legislature, and President of the National Assembly of Laos from 1993 to 2006. He was born in Phichit Province, Siam to Vietnamese immigrant family. He was in charge of ideological and cultural works of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party (LPRP), and he was a member of the 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th Politburo, a member of the 3rd Secretariat of the LPRP. He died at 00.24 am on July 22, 2016 at the age of 89.
Onechanh Thammavong is a Laotian politician and member of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party (LPRP). She served as the Minister of Labour and Social Welfare in the 6th Government of Laos.
Soulivong Daravong is a Laotian politician and economist born in Xieng Khouang Province. He served as Minister of Planning and Investment of Laos. He studied engineering at Montreal University in Canada, graduating in 1974.
Phankham Viphavanh is a Laotian politician, a member of the Politburo and the Executive Committee of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party. He is also the Prime Minister of Laos, who was elected by the National Assembly of Laos in March 2021. Previously, he was Vice President of Laos, Minister of Education of Laos, and President of the Lao–Vietnam Friendship Association.
Nam Viyaketh is a Laotian statesman and member of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party. As of 2010, he was Minister of Industry and Commerce of Laos.
Sombath Somphone is an internationally acclaimed community development worker and prominent member of Lao civil society. Sombath was abducted from a Vientiane street in 2012 and has not been seen since.
Laos–Malaysia relations are foreign relations between Laos and Malaysia. Both countries are the members of ASEAN.
India–Laos relations, also referred to as Indian-Lao relations or Indo-Lao relations, are bilateral relations between India and Laos. Relations between two nations were established in February 1956. First Prime Minister of India Jawaharlal Nehru visited Laos in 1954 while first President of India Rajendra Prasad visited Laos in 1956. India considers Laos as strategically important in accordance with China's growing land-reclamation activities in the South China Sea. Laos has been supportive to India's efforts to become a permanent member of the UN Security Council.
The 8th National Assembly of Laos was elected by a popular vote on 20 March 2016 and was replaced by the 9th National Assembly on 22 March 2021.
Sisay Leudetmounsone is a Laotian politician and member of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party (LPRP). She currently serves as Head of the LPRP Central Committee Organisation Commission, and is a member of the 11th Central Committee, 11th Politburo and the 11th Secretariat.
