# President of Laos

The president of the Lao People's Democratic Republic is the head of state of Laos. The current president is Thongloun Sisoulith, since 22 March 2021. He was previously elected as the General Secretary of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party, Laos' most powerful position in January 2021, ranking him first in the Politburo.

## History
### Background

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 and one of the Three Princes, 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.

## Duties and rights
### Term limits

The president is elected by the National Assembly for a term of five years, and may serve no more than two terms consecutively. A candidate must receive at least two-thirds support from lawmakers present and voting in order to be elected.

### Role and authority

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. Additionally, the President is the commander-in-chief of the Lao People's Armed Forces.
However, as Laos is a one party communist state, the highest and most powerful political position is the General Secretary of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party, not the President. The general secretary controls the Politburo and the Secretariat, Laos' top decision-making bodies, making the officeholder as de facto leader of Laos. However, the offices have been held concurrently for most of the time since 1998. As such, the president derives most of his power from his post as general secretary.
Since Laos is a one-party state, all the presidents of the People's Democratic Republic have been members of the party while holding office.

## List of presidents

| No. | Portrait | Name (Birth–Death) | Term of office | Term of office | Term of office | Election | Prime minister(s) |
| No. | Portrait | Name (Birth–Death) | Took office | Left office | Time in office | Election | Prime minister(s) |
| 1 | | Souphanouvong ສຸພານຸວົງ (1909–1995) | 2 December 1975 | 29 October 1986 | 10 years, 331 days | None | Kaysone Phomvihane |
| – | | Phoumi Vongvichit ພູມີ ວົງວິຈິດ (1909–1994) Acting | 29 October 1986 | 15 August 1991 | 4 years, 290 days | None | Kaysone Phomvihane |
| 2 | | Kaysone Phomvihane ໄກສອນ ພົມວິຫານ (1920–1992) | 15 August 1991 | 21 November 1992 | 1 year, 98 days | 1991 | Khamtai Siphandon |
| 3 | | Nouhak Phoumsavanh ໜູຮັກ ພູມສະຫວັນ (1910–2008) | 25 November 1992 | 24 February 1998 | 5 years, 91 days | None | Khamtai Siphandon |
| 4 | | Khamtai Siphandone ຄຳໄຕ ສີພັນດອນ (born 1924) | 24 February 1998 | 8 June 2006 | 8 years, 104 days | 1996 | Sisavath Keobounphanh |
| 4 | | Khamtai Siphandone ຄຳໄຕ ສີພັນດອນ (born 1924) | 24 February 1998 | 8 June 2006 | 8 years, 104 days | 2001 | Bounnhang Vorachith |
| 5 | | Choummaly Sayasone ຈູມມະລີ ໄຊຍະສອນ (born 1936) | 8 June 2006 | 20 April 2016 | 9 years, 317 days | 2006 | Bouasone Bouphavanh |
| 5 | | Choummaly Sayasone ຈູມມະລີ ໄຊຍະສອນ (born 1936) | 8 June 2006 | 20 April 2016 | 9 years, 317 days | 2011 | Thongsing Thammavong |
| 6 | | Bounnhang Vorachit ບຸນຍັງ ວໍລະຈິດ (born 1937) | 20 April 2016 | 22 March 2021 | 4 years, 336 days | 2016 | Thongloun Sisoulith |
| 7 | | Thongloun Sisoulith ທອງລຸນ ສີສຸລິດ (born 1945) | 22 March 2021 | Incumbent | 3 years, 346 days | 2021 | Phankham Viphavanh |
| 7 | | Thongloun Sisoulith ທອງລຸນ ສີສຸລິດ (born 1945) | 22 March 2021 | Incumbent | 3 years, 346 days | 2021 | Sonexay Siphandone |