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Parliament name (generic / translated) Sapha Heng Xat / National Assembly More photos  >>> Structure of parliament Unicameral Affiliation to the IPU Yes Affiliation date(s) 1956 - 1975 1990 - LEADERSHIP President Pany Yathotou (F)  Notes Elected on 23 Dec. 2010, re-elected on 15 June 2011. Secretary General Thongteun Xayasen (M)  COMPOSITION Members (statutory / current number) 132 / 132 PERCENTAGE OF WOMEN More statistics  >>> Women (current number) 33 (25.00%) Mode of designation directly elected 132 Term 5 years Last renewal dates 30 April 2011 (View details) CONTACT INFORMATION Address National Assembly N.A. Building 1 That-Luang Square P.O. Box 662 - VIENTIANE (Export mailing lists) Phone (856 21) 413 515 413 518 Fax (856 21) 413 515 413 528 E-mail na_fad@na.gov.la Website http://www.na.gov.la/

Parliament name (generic / translated) Sapha Heng Xat / National Assembly Structure of parliament Unicameral LEGAL FRAMEWORK Electoral law 12 April 1997 Mode of designation directly elected 132 Constituencies 18 multi-member (3 to 14 seats, according to population) constituencies. Voting system Majority: Party-list simple majority vote. Vacancies arising between general elections are filled through by-elections. Voting is not compulsory. Voter requirements - age: 18 years - Lao citizenship CANDIDATES Eligibility - qualified electors - age: 21 years - Lao citizenship - ineligibilities: insanity, deprivation of civil and political rights by court decision Incompatibilities (not applicable) Candidacy requirements - support of local authorities or mass organisations required - in each constituency, election committees receive and approve candidatures after having reduced them to a desired number

Parliament name (generic / translated) Sapha Heng Xat / National Assembly Structure of parliament Unicameral BACKGROUND Dates of election / renewal (from/to) 30 April 2011 Timing and scope of renewal Elections were held for all seats in the National Assembly on the normal expiry of the members' term of office. At stake in the April 2011 elections were 132 seats in the National Assembly, up from 115. In the previous elections held in April 2006, the Lao People's Revolutionary Party (LPRP) - the only political party since the Lao People's Democratic Republic was established in 1975 - took 113 of the 115 seats at stake, with the remaining two going to independents. In June, the National Assembly elected LPRP leader Choummaly Sayasone as the new President of the Republic and former deputy prime minister Mr. Bouasone Bouphavanh as the new Prime Minister, replacing Mr. Boungnang Vorachit. In December 2010, Mr. Bouasone resigned and was replaced by Speaker of the National Assembly, Mr. Thonsing Thammavong. The then Deputy Speaker, Ms. Pany Yathotou, succeeded the latter, becoming the first female Speaker in Laos since 1975. In recent years, the government has been gradually liberalizing the economy in an attempt to help the country graduate from the category of least developed countries (LDCs) by 2020. In January 2011, Laos opened a stock market, Lao Securities Exchange (LSX), in the capital, Vientiane. The LSX is initially offering shares in two State-owned companies. On 20 March 2011, the national congress of the LPRP re-elected Mr. Choummaly, 75, as its leader for a second five-year term. The congress also adopted a series of policies to be implemented by 2015, which aim at political stability and sound economic development. The LPRP Government wants to reduce the number of poverty-stricken households to below 10 per cent of the population and promote enhanced regional and international integration. In all, 190 candidates were nominated for the 2011 elections: 47 central government staff and 143 local officials. Four of the candidates work for State-owned enterprises, while five are entrepreneurs of private enterprises. 45 were members of the outgoing legislature. Most candidates were members of the LPRP while five independent candidates were also vying for seats. President Choummaly said that to better develop the nation, citizens need "good and suitable representatives" who are willing to discuss their problems. According to the official figure, 99.6 per cent of the 3.2 million registered voters turned out at the polls. The final results gave 128 seats to the LPRP while the four remaining seats went to independents. About 50 of the newly elected members are representatives of minorities. In all, 33 women were elected. On 15 June, the newly-elected National Assembly held its first session and re-elected Ms. Pany Yathotou (LPRP) as its Speaker. It also re-elected Mr. Choummaly as the President of the Republic and Mr. Thonsing as Prime Minister. STATISTICS Voter turnout Round no 1 30 April 2011 Number of registered electors Voters Blank or invalid ballot papers Valid votes 3'240'000 3'230'000 (99.6%) Notes Distribution of votes Round no 1 Political group Candidates Votes % of votes Lao People's Revolutionary Party (LPRP) Independents Distribution of seats Round no 1 Political Group Total of seats Lao People's Revolutionary Party (LPRP) 128 Independents 4 Distribution of seats according to sex Men Women Percent of women 99 33 25.00% Distribution of seats according to age Distribution of seats according to profession Comments Source: National Assembly (11.06.2011, 15.06.2011)

Parliament name (generic / translated) Sapha Heng Xat / National Assembly Structure of parliament Unicameral APPOINTMENT AND TERM OF OFFICE Title President of the National Assembly Term - duration: 5 years, renewable (term of House) (re-elected on 23 February 1998) - reasons for interruption of the term: resignation, President's responsibility called into question, death, dissolution of the Assembly Appointment - elected by all Members of the Assembly - the election is held at the beginning of the new legislature - before validation of mandates and swearing-in Eligibility - any Member may be a candidate, but must give formal notification of his/her candidature before the inaugural session of the Assembly Voting system - formal, public vote by a show of hands - one round of voting - a simple majority is required Procedures / results - the outgoing President presides over the Assembly during the voting - the President supervises the voting - the outgoing President announces the results without delay - the results cannot be challenged STATUS Status - ranks second in the hierarchy of the State - may replace the Head of State in the latter's absence - represents the Assembly with the authorities - is ex officio a member of bodies outside Parliament - represents the Assembly in international bodies - is ex officio chairman of committees or other bodies - in the absence of the President, one of the Vice-Presidents can assume his/her role and functions Board - the Standing Committee is regulated by the Standing Orders - consists of the President of the Assembly and 7 Members - members serve a five-year term - meets once monthly when convened by the President - assists the President and constitutes a genuine collegial presidency Material facilities - allowance: 300,000 kips per month - official residence - official car - secretariat - additional staff - domestic personnel - bodyguards FUNCTIONS Organization of parliamentary business - convenes sessions - establishes and modifies the agenda - organizes the debates and sets speaking time - examines the admissibility of bills and amendments - refers texts to a committee for study - examines the admissibility of requests for setting up committees and/or committees of enquiry, proposes or decides on the setting-up of such committees Chairing of public sittings - can open, adjourn and close sittings - ensures respect for provisions of the Constitution and Standing Orders - takes disciplinary measures in the event of disturbance, and lifts such measures - establishes the list of speakers, gives and withdraws permission to speak - establishes the order in which amendments are taken up and selects which amendments are to be debated - calls for a vote, decides how it is to be carried out, verifies the voting procedure and cancels a vote in the event of irregularities - checks the quorum - authenticates the texts adopted and the records of debates - interprets the rules or other regulations governing the life of the Assembly Special powers - advises with regard to the establishment of the budget - examines the proposal made by the Secretariat Commission of the Standing Committee for the recruitment, assignment and promotion of staff - appoints the Clerk after having consulted the Standing Committee - organizes the services of Parliament after having consulted the Standing Committee - plays a specific role in the conduct of foreign affairs or defence matters - is responsible for relations with foreign Parliaments - is responsible for security, and in this capacity, can call the police in the event of disturbance in the Chamber Speaking and voting rights, other functions - takes the floor in legislative debates - provides guidelines for the interpretation or completion of the text under discussion - takes part in voting - proposes bills or amendments - intervenes in the parliamentary oversight procedure - ensures the constitutionality of laws - may appoint members of the Constitutional Court - is consulted in certain circumstances (dissolution, appointment of the Prime Minister, etc.)

Parliament name (generic / translated) Sapha Heng Xat / National Assembly Structure of parliament Unicameral NATURE Nature of the mandate Start of the mandate · From the opening session of the legislature or from the session following the election in the case of MPs elected to fill a vacancy (Art. 47 of the Law on the National Assembly of the Lao PDR, Art. 2 (1) of the Regulations on the Organisation and Functions of Members of the National Assembly in conjunction with Art. 4 (1) of the Law on the National Assembly of the Lao PDR) Validation of mandates · No validation End of the mandate · On the day when the newly elected Parliament meets (Art. 47 (1) of the Law on the National Assembly of the Lao PDR, Art. 2 (1) of the Regulations on the Organisation and Functions of Members of the National Assembly in conjunction with Art. 4 (1) of the Law on the National Assembly of the Lao PDR) Can MPs resign? Yes · Yes, of their own free will (Art. 19 of the Regulations of the Organisation and Functions of Members of the National Assembly) · Procedure: written request addressed to the competent authority · Authority competent to accept the resignation: National Assembly during the sessions; the Standing Committee of the National Assembly in the interim Can MPs lose their mandate ? Yes (a) Revocation before expiry of mandate by the electors (Art. 4 (2) of the Constitution of 15.08.1991, Art. 18 to 21 of the Regulations of the Organisation and Functions of Members of the National Assembly, Art. 5 of the Electoral Law of the National Assembly of the Lao PDR) (b) Definitive exclusion from Parliament by the latter on conviction of criminal offences (Art. 16 (4) of the Regulations on the Organisation and Functions of Members of the National Assembly; see Parliamentary inviolability-Waiver of immunity-Procedure) (c) Death (Art. 19 of the Regulations of the Organisation and Functions of Members of the National Assembly) STATUS OF MEMBERS Rank in hierarchy Indemnities, facilities and services · Diplomatic and official passport (Art. 12 and 13 of the Regulations on the Organisation and Functions of Members of the National Assembly) · Basic salary (Art. 50 of the Law on the National Assembly of the Lao PDR, Art. 17 of the Regulations on the Organisation and Functions of Members of the National Assembly): LAK 50,000 · No exemption from tax · Pension scheme calculated on the basic salary (100 % to 25 % in accordance with seniority) · Other facilities: (a) Secretariat/assistants (Rules 26 and 27 of the Rules on the National Assembly Session Proceedings; Regulations on the Organisation and Functions of the Office of the National Assembly; Regulations on the Organisation and Functions of the National Assembly Members Office) (b) Official housing (c) Official car (d) Postal and telephone services (e) Travel and transport (f) Others Obligation to declare personal assets No Parliamentary immunity - parliamentary non-accountability · The concept does exist (Art. 14 and 16 (1) of the Regulations on the Organisation and Functions of Members of the National Assembly). · Parliamentary non-accountability applies to words spoken and written by MPs both within and outside Parliament. · Non-accountability takes effect on the day when the mandate begins and offers, after the expiry of the mandate, protection against prosecution for opinions expressed during the exercise of the mandate. Parliamentary immunity - parliamentary inviolability · The concept does exist (Art. 51 (1) of the Constitution, Art. 51 (1) of the Law on the National Assembly of the Lao PDR, Art. 16 (1) of the Regulations on the Organisation and Functions of Members of the National Assembly). · It applies to criminal and civil proceedings, covers all offences with the exception of particularly serious offences or minor offences and protects MPs from arrest and from being held in preventive custody, from the opening of judicial proceedings against them and from their homes being searched. · No derogations are foreseen. · Parliamentary inviolability does prevent MPs from being called as witnesses before a judge or tribunal. · Protection is provided from the start to the end of the mandate. It does not cover judicial proceedings instituted against MPs before their election. · Parliamentary immunity (inviolability) can be lifted (Art. 51 (1) of the Constitution, Art. 51 (1) of the Law on the National Assembly of the Lao PDR, Art. 16 (1) of the Regulations on the Organisation and Functions of Members of the National Assembly): - Competent authority: the National Assembly or the Standing Committee of the National Assembly (between sessions) - Procedure (Art. 51 (2) of the Constitution, Art. 51 (2) of the Law on the National Assembly of the Lao PDR, Art. 16 (2) to (4) of the Regulations on the Organisation and Functions of Members of the National Assembly. In this case, MPs must be heard. They do have means of appeal. · Parliament can subject the prosecution and/or detention to certain conditions: - Competent authority: the National Assembly or the Standing Committee of the National Assembly - Procedure: majority vote · Parliament can suspend the prosecution and/or detention of one of its members: - Competent authority: the National Assembly or the Standing Committee of the National Assembly - Procedure: majority vote· In the event of preventive custody or imprisonment, the MPs concerned cannot be authorised to attend sittings of Parliament. EXERCISE OF THE MANDATE Training · There is a training/initiation process on parliamentary practices and procedures for MPs. · It is provided by the National Assembly. Participation in the work of the Parliament · It is compulsory for MPs to be present at plenary sittings, committee meetings, and political seminars (Art. 48 (3) of the Law on the National Assembly of the Lao PDR, Art. 9 of the Rules on the National Assembly Session Proceedings, Art. 4 (3) and 5 (1) of the Regulations on the Organisation and Functions of Members of the National Assembly). · Penalties foreseen in case of failure to fulfil this obligation: admonitions Discipline · The rules governing discipline within Parliament are contained in the Law concerning the Discipline in Parliament Code (rules) of conduct · This concept does not exist in the country's juridical system. However, see Revocation before expiry of mandate by the electors and Definitive exclusion from Parliament by the latter for the committal of criminal offences. Relations between MPs and pressure group · There are no legal provisions in this field.

This page was last updated on 20 June 2011
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