The Government of Laos
The Political System of One of the Last Communist Countries
Laos is one of the last communist countries in the World. During the Cold War, it was very close to Vietnam and the Soviet Union. The seat of government is in the capital city of Vientiane. Laos is led by an authoritarian, centralized and secretive regime. The national holiday, Republic Day, is celebrated on December 2nd.
Legislative Branch
The Lao People's Democratic Republic adopted a new constitution in August 1991, establishing a unicameral National Assembly. The 115 members are elected for a five-year term by universal suffrage at 18 years of age from a list of candidates selected by the Lao People's Revolutionary Party, the one legal political party in the country. Only 2 approved independents were elected in 2006.
Executive Branch
President Choummaly Sayasone (since June 2006) is the Head of State and shares the executive with Prime Minister Bouasone Bouphavanh (since June 2006) in a somewhat semi-presidential model. The President and Vice-president are elected by the National Assembly for a five-year term, while the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers are selected by the President and elected by the National Assembly.
Judicial Branch
The People's Supreme Court is elected by the National Assembly and the legal system is based on traditional customs, French civil law and socialist practices. Laos has not accepted compulsory International Criminal Court jurisdiction.
The Party
Political institutions are totally integrated into the structures of the single Party, whose 11-member Politburo and Central Comity determine government policies, which are automatically approved by the National Assembly. Thus, the President derives his real power from also being Party Leader and Head of the Politburo. Also, the Prime Minister and other dominant government and military officials are generally Politburo members.
Since the death of former President and Party founder Kaysone Phonvihane in 1992, the Lao People's Army has imposed itself into the structures of the LPRP. Today, the majority of Politburo members are active or former army officers and both the actual President, as well as his predecessor Khamtai Siphandone, have held the positions of Defense Minister and Commander in Chief of the Lao People's Army. Consequently, if behind the post-1991 constitution facade of democratic institutions is the all-powerfull Party, this same still Marxist-Leninist Party is itself a facade to a rather capitalist military junta. (See Martin Stuart-Fox's "After the Sixth Party Congress" published in the volume 3, 1999 issue of Lao Studies Review.)
Administrative Divisions
The Lao PDR is divided into 16 provinces: Attapu, Bokeo, Borikhamxay (Bolikhamxay), Champassack, Houaphan (Houa Phan), Khammouane, Louangmamtha (Luang Nam Tha), Louangprabang (Luang Phabang), Oudomxay, Phongsaly, Saravane (Salavane), Savannakhet, Vientiane (Viang Chan), Sayaboury (Xaignabouli), Xekong (Sekong) and Xieng Khouang. It also has a special zone, Saysomboun (Xaysomboun), and a municipality around the capital city of Vientiane (Viang Chan).
References
Central Intelligence Agency. The Wold Factbook. 2008.
LaoPDR.com. Lao Government Links.
