The politics of the Lao People's Democratic Republic takes place in the framework of a one-party parliamentary socialist republic. The only legal political party is the Lao People's Revolutionary Party (LPRP). The head of state is President Thongloun Sisoulith,who is also the LPRP general secretary,making him the supreme leader of Laos. The head of government is Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone.
The Lao People's Armed Forces or the Lao People's Army (LPA) is the armed forces of the Lao People's Democratic Republic and the institution of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party,who are charged with protecting the country.
Kaysone Phomvihane was the first leader of the Communist Lao People's Revolutionary Party from 1955 until his death in 1992. After the Communists seized power in the wake of the Laotian Civil War,he was the de facto leader of Laos from 1975 until his death. He served as the first Prime Minister of the Lao People's Democratic Republic from 1975 to 1991 and then as the second President from 1991 to 1992. His theories and policies are officially known as Kaysone Phomvihane Thought.
The Lao People's Revolutionary Party (LPRP) is the founding and sole ruling party of the Lao People's Democratic Republic. The party's monopoly on state power is guaranteed by Article 3 of the Constitution of Laos,and it maintains a unitary state with centralised control over the economy and military.
General Khamtai Siphandone is a Laotian politician who was Chairman of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party from 24 November 1992 to 21 March 2006 and President of Laos from 24 February 1998 to 8 June 2006,when he was replaced by Choummaly Sayasone. He was a member of the Communist Party of Indochina in 1954 and a member of the Central Committee of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party in 1956.
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.
Lieutenant General Choummaly Sayasone is a Laotian politician who was General Secretary of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party (LPRP) and President of Laos from 2006 to 2016.
Samane Vignaket was a Laotian politician and Lieutenant General,who served as the 1st President of the National Assembly of Laos from 1993 to 2006. A member of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party,Vignaket served as a member of the 4th,5th,6th,7th and 8th Politburo and was a member of the 3rd Secretariat of the LPRP,including as Minister of Education from 1988-1991.
Asang Laoly is a retired Lao politician,Major General,and member of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party (LPRP). While he was the Deputy Prime Minister of Laos from 2002 to 2016,he also held a number of leadership positions in both the government and in LPRP.
Lieutenant general Douangchay Phichit was a Laotian politician from Attapeu and a Politburo member of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party. He served as the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defense.
The 9th Congress of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party (LPRP) was held in Vientiane from 17–21 March 2011. The congress occurs once every five years. A total of 576 delegates represented the party's 191,700 card-carrying members.
On 17 May 2014,an Antonov An-74 transport aircraft of the Lao People's Liberation Army Air Force crashed while en route to Xiangkhouang Province,northern Laos,killing all but one of the 17 people on board. Among the victims were several Laotian politicians travelling to attend a ceremony celebrating the 55th anniversary of the second division of the Lao People's Army.
Pany Yathotou is a Laotian politician and member of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party.
The 10th National Congress of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party was held in Vientiane from 18–22 January 2016. The congress occurs once every five years. A total of 685 delegates represented the party's 252,879 card-carrying members.
The 11th Central Committee was elected at the 11th National Congress of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party on 15 January 2021,and is composed of 71 ordinary members and ten substitutes. As an institution,the Central Committee is the party's highest decision-making body between convocations of the National Congress,which convenes every fifth year. Since the LPRP has a monopoly on state power in Laos,the Central Committees formulates policies which the state implements. In between plenary sessions of the 11th Central Committee the 11th Politburo,is the party's highest decision-making body.
Bounthong Chitmany is a Laotian politician and member of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party (LPRP). He is a former Governor of Oudomxay Province. He is currently Chairman of the Inspection Commission of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party. He was elected to the LPRP Central Committee at the 6th National Congress and still retains his seat. At the 10th National Congress he was elected to the LPRP Politburo,and he still retains his seat.
The 8th Central Committee of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party (LPRP) was elected at the 8th LPRP National Congress in 2006. It was composed of 55 members.
Sonexay Siphandone is a Laotian politician who is serving as the Prime Minister of Laos since 30 December 2022. A member of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party (LPRP),he previously served as Deputy Prime Minister from 2016 to 2022. He is the son of former LPRP Chairman Khamtai Siphandone and brother of Viengthong Siphandone.
The 4th Central Committee of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party (LPRP) was elected at the 4th LPRP National Congress in 1986. It was composed of 51 members and nine alternates.
The 5th Central Committee of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party (LPRP) was elected at the 5th LPRP National Congress in 1991. It was composed of 55 members and four alternates.
