Souphanouvong

Souphanouvong
ສຸພານຸວົງ
1st President of Laos
In office 2 December 1975 – 15 August 1991
Prime Minister	Kaysone Phomvihane
Preceded by	Office Established (Sisavang Vatthana as King)
Succeeded by	Phoumi Vongvichit (Acting)
President of the Supreme People's Assembly
In office 1975–1988
Succeeded by	Nouhak Phoumsavanh
Personal details
Born	13 July 1909 (1909-07-13) Luang Phrabang, Laos
Died	9 January 1995 (1995-01-10) (aged 85) Vientiane, Laos
Political party	Lao People's Revolutionary Party
Spouse	Viengkham Souphanouvong

Prince Souphanouvong (13 July 1909 – 9 January 1995) 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 figurehead President of Laos from December 1975 to August 1991.

Souphanouvong was one of the sons of Prince Bounkhong, the last viceroy of Luang Prabang. Unlike his half-brothers, Souvanna Phouma and Phetsarath Ratanavongsa, whose mothers were of royal birth, his mother was a commoner, Mom Kham Ouane.

Educated in France and Vietnam, he eventually became a supporter of Ho Chi Minh and joined the Indochinese communist movement. In August 1950, Souphanouvong convened the first congress of the Lao Freedom Front (Neo Lao Issara), more generally known as the Pathet Lao, which served as the vehicle for the communist challenge to French rule. He was the chairman of the Neo Lao Issara (since 1956, Neo Lao Hak Xat) and Resistance Government.

Nicknamed "The Red Prince", he became part of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party, and upon its successful seizure of power in 1975, he became the first President of the Lao People's Democratic Republic, a position which he held until 1991. After 1986, Phoumi Vongvichit acted in his stead as president, though Souphanouvong still technically remained President. Kaysone Phomvihane succeeded as president in 1991. He was the President of the Supreme People's Assembly from 1975 to 1988.

In 1991, he became an Adviser of Party's Central Committee. Souphanouvong died 86.

Souphanouvong spoke eight languages, including Greek and Latin. He worked in the ports of Le Havre before studying for an engineering degree from the École nationale des ponts et chaussées.

Honours and Awards

• Bulgaria: the Order of Stara Planina
• Mongolia: the Order of Sukhbaatar

External links

• Souphanouvong, "Red Prince" of Laos, dies aged 86
• New York Times' obituary
• Independent's obituary