President 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
Coat of Arms of the Lao People's Democratic Republic
Incumbent Bounnhang Vorachith since 20 April 2016
Appointer	National Assembly
Term length	Five years
Inaugural holder	Prince Souphanouvong
Formation	2 December 1975
Deputy	Vice President of Laos

The President of the Lao People's Democratic Republic is the head of state of Laos.

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 Army. 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 Vorachit, 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.

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, 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 of Laos (1975–present)

No.		Portrait	Name (Birth–Death)	Term of Office			Political Party
				Took Office	Left Office	Time in Office
style="background:Template:Lao People's Revolutionary Party/meta/color" |	1		Souphanouvong (1909–1995)	2 December 1975	15 August 1991	15 years, 256 days	Lao People's Revolutionary Party
style="background:Template:Lao People's Revolutionary Party/meta/color" |	—		Phoumi Vongvichit (1909–1994) Acting President (for Souphanouvong)	31 October 1986	15 August 1991	4 years, 288 days	Lao People's Revolutionary Party
style="background:Template:Lao People's Revolutionary Party/meta/color" |	2		Kaysone Phomvihane (1920–1992)	15 August 1991	21 November 1992	1 year, 98 days	Lao People's Revolutionary Party
style="background:Template:Lao People's Revolutionary Party/meta/color" |	3	File:Nouhak Phoumsavan.jpg	Nouhak Phoumsavanh (1910–2008)	25 November 1992	24 February 1998	5 years, 91 days	Lao People's Revolutionary Party
style="background:Template:Lao People's Revolutionary Party/meta/color" |	4	File:Sultan of Brunei with Khamtay Siphandone (cropped).png	Khamtai Siphandon (1924–)	24 February 1998	8 June 2006	8 years, 104 days	Lao People's Revolutionary Party
style="background:Template:Lao People's Revolutionary Party/meta/color" |	5		Choummaly Sayasone (1936–)	8 June 2006	20 April 2016	9 years, 317 days	Lao People's Revolutionary Party
style="background:Template:Lao People's Revolutionary Party/meta/color" |	6		Bounnhang Vorachith (1938–)	20 April 2016	Incumbent	8 years, 218 days	Lao People's Revolutionary Party

Living former presidents

• Khamtai Siphandon served 1998–2006 born 1924 (age 100)
  Khamtai Siphandon
  served 1998–2006
  born 1924 (age 100)
• 
  Choummaly Sayasone
  served 2006–2016
  born 1936 (age 88)

See also

• List of monarchs of Laos
• Prime Minister of Laos