Party Structure
From a membership of a few hundred at its founding the party grew to 11,000 members by 1965 and 21,000 members by 1972. When the party seized power in 1975 it claimed a membership of 25,000; and by 1991, at the convening of the Fifth Party Congress, the LPRP claimed its membership had increased to 60,000 or just over 1% of the population.
The Central Committee of the party was composed of 21 members and 6 alternates in 1975. This expanded to 51 members and 9 alternates by 1986 and 59 members in 1991.
The Politburo is the centre of political power in the party with its membership drawn from and chosen by the Central Committee. The Politburo consisted of seven members in 1972 growing to eleven members by 1993.
At the Fifth Party Congress, the party abolished the nineperson Secretariat of the Central Committee and changed the designation of the head of the party (Kaysone) from general secretaryl to chairman. Until it was abolished, the Secretariat wielded influence second only to that of the Politburo.
Kaysone Phomvihan was the party's general secretary from its founding in 1955 and remained the party's key figure until his death in 1992. His title changed to Party Chairman in 1991. Nouhak Phoumsavan was the second most powerful figure in the party throughout from the party's founding until Kaysone's death when he became the party's titular leader.
The party is currently led by Choummaly Sayasone since 2006. Former leader Khamtai Siphandon succeeded Nouhak Phoumsavan in 1998 (although some accounts have him succeeding Kaysone in 1992). Other recent leading figures have included Sisavath Keobounphanh and Boungnang Vorachith, who have each served as prime minister. Party's Secretary-General and State President,Chairman of the National Assembly, Prime Minister, Vice President is most important members of the Politburo LPRP.
Members of the Politburo of the Lao PDR elected at the 9th Party Congress:
- Lt General Choummaly Sayasone
- Mr Thongsing Thammavong
- Colonel Boungnang Vorachit
- Dr Thongloun Sisoulith
- Mrs Pany Yathotou
- Major General Asang Laoly
- Major General Douangchay Phichith
- Mr Somsavat Lengsavad
- Dr Bounthong Chitmany
- Dr Bounpone Bouttanavong
- Dr Phankham Viphavan
Secretariat of the Party Central Committee:
- Lt. Gen. Choummaly Sayasone
- Bounnhang Vorachit (PCC Standing Secretariat)
- Dr Bounthong Chitmany
- Dr Bounpone Bouttanavong
- Dr Thongban Seng-aphone
- Chansy Phosikham
- Soukan Mahalath
- Maj. Gen. Sengnuan Xayalath
- Cheuang Sombounkhanh
The party operates according to the principles of democratic centralism. Due to the covert nature of the party in its first two decades it remains semi-secret in its operations though it is becoming more open as a new generation takes control.
Read more about this topic: Lao People's Revolutionary Party
Famous quotes containing the words party and/or structure:
“... the idea of a classless society is ... a disastrous mirage which cannot be maintained without tyranny of the few over the many. It is even more pernicious culturally than politically, not because the monolithic state forces the party line upon its intellectuals and artists, but because it has no social patterns to reflect.”
—Agnes E. Meyer (1887–1970)
“Women over fifty already form one of the largest groups in the population structure of the western world. As long as they like themselves, they will not be an oppressed minority. In order to like themselves they must reject trivialization by others of who and what they are. A grown woman should not have to masquerade as a girl in order to remain in the land of the living.”
—Germaine Greer (b. 1939)