Prime Minister of Laos

Prime Minister of the Lao People's Democratic Republic
ນາຍົກລັດຖະມົນຕີ ແຫ່ງ ສປປ ລາວ
National emblem
National flag
Incumbent Sonexay Siphandone since 30 December 2022
Executive branch Office of the Prime Minister
Style	Your Excellency
Type	Head of government
Member of	LPRP Central Committee LPRP Politburo
Residence	Building of the Office of the Prime Minister
Seat	Vientiane
Nominator	President
Appointer	National Assembly
Term length	Maximum of two five-year terms
Constituting instrument	Constitution of Laos Law on Government
Inaugural holder	Phetsarath Ratanavongsa
Formation	21 August 1941
Deputy	Deputy Prime Minister

Politics of Laos
Constitution Marxism–Leninism Kaysone Phomvihane Thought
People's Revolutionary Party National Congress (11th) Rules Central Committee (11th) General Secretary Thongloun Sisoulith Secretariat (11th) Standing Member Bounthong Chitmany Politburo (11th) Inspection Commission (11th) Chairman Khamphan Phommathat Vice Chairman Vilayvanh Boudakham Defence and Public Security Commission (11th) Chairman Thongloun Sisoulith
National Assembly 9th term President Saysomphone Phomvihane Standing Committee (9th) President Saysomphone Phomvihane Presidency (9th) President Thongloun Sisoulith Vice President Pany Yathotou Bounthong Chitmany Government (9th—list) Prime Minister Phankham Viphavanh Deputy Prime Minister Chansamone Chanyalath Sonexay Siphandone Kikeo Khaykhamphithoune State Audit Organisation (9th) President Malaythong Kommasith State Inspection Authority (9th) President Khamphan Phommathat Judiciary People's Supreme Court (9th) President Viengthong Siphandone Supreme People's Procuracy (9th) Supreme Prosecutor Xaysana Khotphouthone
Mass organisations Front for National Development Standing Committee President Saysomphone Phomvihane Women's Union Central Committee President Inlavanh Keobounphanh Youth Union Central Committee General Secretary Alounxay Sounnalath
Military Defense Lao People's Armed Forces Head: Thongloun Sisoulith Ministry of Defense Minister: C. Chanyalath
List Ministry of Foreign Affairs Minister: Saleumxay Kommasith Diplomatic missions of / in Laos Passport Visa requirements Visa policy
Related topics Elections Administrative divisions (provinces districts) Human rights LGBT rights Committee for Independence and Democracy (CIDL) Ministry of Foreign Affairs
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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 Sonexay Siphandone, who was elected in 2022.

The Kingdom of Luang Phrabang was the first Laotian state to establish the office of prime minister. The Constitution of the Kingdom of Laos, ratified in 1947, established the post of Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Laos. The kingdom was abolished on 2 December 1975, when the National Congress of People's Representatives established the Lao People's Democratic Republic. The congress established the office of prime minister, forming the First Government on that day. The Supreme People's Assembly (SPA) approved the Law on the Council of Government, regulating the government's decision-making process, in 1982. The Constitution was approved on 14 August 1991, and the Prime Minister was made subordinate to the President.

Although the Constitution and the Law on Government do not stipulate any qualifications needed to be elected prime minister except for a minimum age of twenty, the law implies that the prime minister must be a member of the LPRP. Every prime minister since the communist seizure of power on 2 December 1975 has been a member of the LPRP Central Committee and the party's Politburo. Of the seven prime ministers since 1975, two served concurrently as LPRP General Secretary; since 1998, however, the general secretary normally serves concurrently as the president.

The prime minister is nominated by the president and elected for a five-year term by the National Assembly. The nominee must receive a majority vote to be elected, and the officeholder can serve a maximum of two terms. The prime minister is responsible for controlling the government's apparatus and composition. They have the right to propose the appointment, reassignment, and removal of minister-level officials and provincial governors to the National Assembly, and is empowered to control and monitor central, provincial and municipal state bodies.