Laos Government 1997

Country name
conventional long form: Lao People's Democratic Republic
conventional short form: Laos
local long form : Sathalanalat Paxathipatai Paxaxon Lao
local short form: none

Data code LA

Government type Communist state

National capital Vientiane

Administrative divisions 16 provinces (khoueng, singular and plural), 1 municipality* (kamphengnakhon, singular and plural), and 1 special zone** (khetphiset, singular andplural); Attapu, Bokeo, Bolikhamxai, Champasak, Houaphan, Khammouan, Louangnamtha,Louangphabang, Oudomxai, Phongsali, Salavan, Savannakhet, Viangchan*, Viangchan,Xaignabouli, Xaisomboun**, Xekong, Xiangkhoang

Independence 19 July 1949 (from France)

National holiday National Day, 2 December (1975) (proclamation of the Lao People's DemocraticRepublic)

Constitution promulgated 14 August 1991

Legal system based on traditional customs, French legal norms and procedures, andSocialist practice

Suffrage 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch
chief of state : President NOUHAK PHOUMSAVAN (appointed 25 November 1992 by the SupremePeople's Assembly to succeed KAYSONE PHOMVIHAN who died in office; electedby the new National Assembly 22 February 1993); Vice President SISAVAT KEOBOUNPHAN(since 20 April 1996 when the position of vice president was first created)
head of government : Prime Minister Gen. KHAMTAI SIPHANDON (since 15 August 1991); DeputyPrime Ministers KHAMPHOUI KEOBOUALAPHA (since 15 August 1991) and BOUNGNANGVOLACHIT (since 20 April 1996)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president, approved by the NationalAssembly
elections : president elected by the National Assembly for a five-year term; electionlast held 22 February 1993 (next to be held NA 1998); prime minister appointedby the president with the approval of the National Assembly for a five-yearterm
election results: NOUHAK PHOUMSAVAN elected president; percent of National Assembly vote- NA

Legislative branch unicameral National Assembly (85 seats; members elected by popular voteto serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 20 December 1992 (next to be held NA 1997)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - LPRP or LPRP-approved(independent, non-party members) 85; note - the distribution of seats as ofJanuary 1997 is as follows - LPRP 78, independents 5, vacant 2

Judicial branch People's Supreme Court, the president of the People's Supreme Courtis elected by the National Assembly on the recommendation of the NationalAssembly Standing Committee, the vice president of the People's Supreme Courtand the judges are appointed by the National Assembly Standing Committee

Political parties and leaders Lao People's Revolutionary Party (LPRP), KHAMTAI Siphandon, party president;other parties proscribed

Political pressure groups and leaders noncommunist political groups proscribed; most opposition leaders fledthe country in 1975

International organization participation ACCT, AsDB, ASEAN (observer), CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM,IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, ITU, Mekong Group, NAM, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO,WMO, WToO, WTrO (observer)

Diplomatic representation in the US
chief of mission: Ambassador HIEM PHOMMACHANH
chancery: 2222 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 332-6416
FAX : [1] (202) 332-4923

Diplomatic representation from the US
chief of mission: Ambassador Wendy Jean CHAMBERLIN
embassy: Rue Bartholonie, B.P. 114, Vientiane
mailing address: American Embassy, Box V, APO AP 96546
telephone: [856] (21) 212581, 212582, 212585
FAX: [856] (21) 212584

Flag description three horizontal bands of red (top), blue (double width), and red witha large white disk centered in the blue band

NOTE: The information regarding Laos on this page is re-published from the 1997 World Fact Book of the United States Central Intelligence Agency. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of Laos Government 1997 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about Laos Government 1997 should be addressed to the CIA.