National Assembly of Laos
Parliament of Laos
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The National Assembly (NA; Lao: ສະພາແຫ່ງຊາດ, romanized: Sapha Haengxat) or formally the National Assembly of the Lao People's Democratic Republic (Lao: ສະພາແຫ່ງຊາດ ແຫ່ງ ສາທາລະນະລັດ ປະຊາທິປະໄຕ ປະຊາຊົນລາວ, romanized: saphahaengxat haeng sathalanalat paxathipatai paxaxon lao) is the supreme state organ of power of Laos. It is the only branch of government in Laos, and per the principle of unified power, all state organs are subservient to it. The National Assembly meets in Vientiane.
National Assembly ສະພາແຫ່ງຊາດ Sapha HaengXat | |
|---|---|
| |
| Type | |
| Type | |
| Leadership | |
| Structure | |
| Seats | 164 |
 | |
Political groups | Lao Front for National Development (164)
|
Length of term | 5 years |
| Elections | |
| Bloc voting | |
Last election | 22 February 2026 |
| Meeting place | |
| New National Assembly Building, Vientiane, Laos | |
| Website | |
| www | |
Laos is a one-party state, with the Lao People's Revolutionary Party as the sole legal party in the country.[1] Most of the National Assembly's actions rubber stamp the party's decisions,[1] as is the case with almost all Communist legislatures.
Efforts have been made to increase the capacity of its members, aiming to strengthen their legislative, oversight, and representational capacities.[2]
History
The National Assembly was established by the Lao Constitution of 1991.[3]
Elections were held in 2021. The Lao People's Revolutionary Party (LPRP) took 158 seats in the enlarged 164-member National Assembly while the 6 remaining seats went to independents.[4]
In 2017, construction started on a new National Assembly building, gifted by Vietnam.[5] The construction was completed in 2021.[6]
Committees
Parliamentary committees of the National Assembly include:[7]
- Law Committee
- Economic, Technology and Environment Committee
- Planning, Finance and Audit Committee
- Cultural and Social Committee
- Ethnic Affairs Committee
- National Defence and Security Committee
- Foreign Affairs Committee