| Parliament name (generic / translated) |
Sapha Heng Xat / National Assembly |
| Structure of parliament |
Unicameral |
| BACKGROUND |
| Dates of election / renewal (from/to) |
20 March 2016 |
| Purpose of elections |
The Lao People's Revolutionary Party (LPRP) took 144 seats in the enlarged 149-member National Assembly (see note) while the five remaining seats went to independents. Nearly 73% of members were elected to the National Assembly for the first time. During the election campaign, many candidates focused on development, promising to serve the interests of the nation and the people.
The 2016 elections followed the LPRP's leadership elections in January. Vice President Bounnhang Vorachit became the new the General Secretary - the highest-ranking member in the LPRP's Politburo - replacing President Choummaly Sayasone. Other key officials include Deputy Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith and Speaker Pany Yathotou. Mr. Vorachit pledged to oversee Laos' graduation from the list of least developed countries by 2020 and achieve the status of upper-middle income country by 2030 while progressing along the socialist path".
On 20 April, the newly elected National Assembly elected Mr. Vorachit as the new President. Mr. Sisoulith was elected Prime Minister, replacing Mr. Thongsing Thammavong.
Note:
The statutory number of members increased from 132 to 149 due to population increase. There is one member for every 50,000 citizens, up to 19 members per province while five members are allotted for the provinces with less than 250,000 citizens.
|
Date of previous elections: 30 April 2011
Timing of election: Upon normal expiry
Expected date of next elections: March 2021
Number of seats at stake: 149 (full renewal)
Number of candidates: 211 (161 men, 50 women)
Percentage of women candidates: 23.7%
Number of parties contesting the election: 1
Number of parties winning seats: 1
Alternation of power: No
Number of parties in government: 1
Names of parties in government: Lao People's Revolutionary Party (LPRP)
Date of the first session of the new parliament: 20 April 2016
Name of the new Speaker: Ms. Pany Yathotou (Lao People's Revolutionary Party, LPRP) |
| STATISTICS |
| Voter turnout |
| Round no 1 | 20 March 2016 |
Number of registered electors
Voters
Blank or invalid ballot papers
Valid votes |
3'733'932
3'657'026 (97.94%)
|
|
Notes
|
|
| Distribution of votes |
|
Round no 1
|
| Political Group |
Candidates |
Votes |
|
|
% |
|
|
| Lao People's Revolutionary Party (LPRP) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Independents |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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| Distribution of seats |
|
Round no 1
|
| Political Group |
Total
|
|
|
|
|
| Lao People's Revolutionary Party (LPRP) |
144
|
|
|
|
|
| Independents |
5
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Distribution of seats according to sex |
Men
Women
Percent of women |
108
41
27.52%
|
| Distribution of seats according to age |
|
|
|
| Distribution of seats according to profession |
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| Comments |
Sources:
National Assembly (08.04.2016, 06.05.2016)
Fast Facts: Lao PDR 2016 Assembly Elections, Vientiane, 1 April 2016, UNDP in Lao PDR
http://www.vientianetimes.org.la
http://en.vietnamplus.vn
http://en.qdnd.vn |
Compare data for parliamentary chambers in the Last elections module
