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Laos
Main Page
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Politics
Country name:
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conventional
long form: Lao
People's Democratic Republic
conventional
short form: Laos
local long
form: Sathalanalat
Paxathipatai Paxaxon Lao
local short
form: Pathet
Lao (unofficial)
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Government
type:
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Communist state
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Capital:
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name: Vientiane
(Viangchan)
geographic
coordinates: 17
58 N, 102 36 E
time
difference: UTC+7
(12 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard
Time)
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Administrative
divisions:
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16 provinces (khoueng,
singular and plural) and 1 capital city* (nakhon
luang, singular and plural); Attapu, Bokeo,
Bolikhamxai, Champasak, Houaphan, Khammouan,
Louangnamtha, Louangphrabang, Oudomxai, Phongsali,
Salavan, Savannakhet, Viangchan (Vientiane)*,
Viangchan, Xaignabouli, Xekong, Xiangkhoang
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Independence:
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19 July 1949
(from France)
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National
holiday:
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Republic Day, 2
December (1975)
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Constitution:
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promulgated 14
August 1991; amended in 2003
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Legal system:
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based on
traditional customs, French legal norms and
procedures, and socialist practice; has not
accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
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Suffrage:
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18 years of
age; universal
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Executive
branch:
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chief of state:
President
Lt. Gen. CHOUMMALI Saignason (since 8 June 2006);
Vice President BOUN-GNANG Volachit (since 8 June
2006)
head of
government: Prime
Minister THONGSING Thammavong (since 24 December
2010); Deputy Prime Ministers Maj. Gen. ASANG
Laoli (since May 2002), Lt. Gen. DOUANGCHAI
Phichit (since 8 June 2006), SOMSAVAT Lengsavat
(since 26 February 1998), and THONGLOUN Sisoulit
(since 27 March 2001)
cabinet: Ministers
appointed by president, approved by National
Assembly
(For
more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: president
and vice president elected by National Assembly
for five-year terms; election last held on 8 June
2006 (next to be held in 2011); prime minister
nominated by the president and elected by the
National Assembly for five-year term
election
results: CHOUMMALI
Saignason elected president; BOUN-GNANG Volachit
elected vice president; percent of National
Assembly vote - 100%; BOUASONE Bouphavanh elected
prime minister; percent of National Assembly vote
- 97%
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Legislative
branch:
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unicameral
National Assembly (115 seats; members elected by
popular vote from a list of candidates selected by
the Lao People's Revolutionary Party to serve
five-year terms)
elections: last
held 30 on April 2006 (next to be held in 2011)
election
results: percent
of vote by party - NA; seats by party - LPRP 113,
independents 2
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Judicial
branch:
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People's
Supreme Court (the president of the People's
Supreme Court is elected by the National Assembly
on the recommendation of the National Assembly
Standing Committee; the vice president of the
People's Supreme Court and the judges are
appointed by the National Assembly Standing
Committee)
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Political
parties and leaders:
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Lao People's
Revolutionary Party or LPRP [CHOUMMALI Saignason];
other parties proscribed
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Political
pressure groups and leaders:
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NA
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International
organization participation:
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ADB, ARF, ASEAN,
CP, EAS, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD,
IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ISO
(subscriber), ITU, MIGA, NAM, OIF, OPCW, PCA, UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO,
WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)
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Diplomatic
representation in the US:
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chief of
mission: Ambassador
SENG Soukhathivong
chancery: 2222
S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1]
(202) 332-6416
FAX: [1]
(202) 332-4923
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Diplomatic
representation from the US:
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chief of
mission: Ambassador
Karen B. STEWART
embassy: 19
Rue Bartholonie, That Dam, Vientiane
mailing
address: American
Embassy Vientiane, APO AP 96546
telephone: [856]
21-26-7000
FAX: [856]
21-26-7190
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Flag
description:
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three
horizontal bands of red (top), blue (double
width), and red with a large white disk centered
in the blue band; the red bands recall the blood
shed for liberation; the blue band represents the
Mekong River and prosperity; the white disk
symbolizes the full moon against the Mekong River,
but also signifies the unity of the people under
the Pathet Lao, as well as the country's bright
future
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National
anthem:
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name: "Pheng
Xat Lao" (Hymn of the Lao People)
lyrics/music: SISANA
Sisane/THONGDY Sounthonevichit
note:
music
adopted 1945, lyrics adopted 1975; the anthem's
lyrics were changed following the 1975 Communist
revolution that overthrew the monarchy
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