Xaysomphone Phomvihane

Xaysomphone Phomvihane
ໄຊສົມພອນ ພົມວິຫານ
Xaysomphone in 2015
President of the National Assembly of Laos
In office
22 March 2021 – 8 August 2026
Preceded byPany Yathotou
Succeeded bySounthone Xayachack (acting)[1]
Chairman of the Central Committee of the Lao Front for National Construction
In office
2016 – 15 March 2021
Preceded byPhandoungchit Vongsa
Succeeded bySinlavong Khoutphaitoun
Minister of Finance
In office
1995 – 24 February 1998
Prime MinisterKhamtai Siphandon
Preceded byKhamsay Souphanouvong
Succeeded byKhamphoui Keoboualapha
Personal details
Born(1956-12-12)12 December 1956
Viengxay, Houaphanh, Laos
Died8 August 2026(2026-08-08) (aged 69)
PartyLao People's Revolutionary Party
SpouseViphavan Phomvihane
Children2
Parent(s)Kaysone (father)
Thongvin (mother)
RelativesSantiphab (brother)
Thongsavanh (brother)
OccupationPolitician

Xaysomphone Phomvihane (Lao: ໄຊສົມພອນ ພົມວິຫານ; 12 December 1956 – 8 August 2026) was a Laotian politician who was president of the National Assembly of Laos from 2021 until his death in 2026. The son of former Lao People's Revolutionary Party (LPRP) General Secretary Kaysone Phomvihane and Thongvin Phomvihane, he joined the LPRP in 1984 and started his political career in the Savannakhet provincial party office. He was elected to the LPRP Central Committee at the 5th National Congress in 1991.

Early life and education

Xaysomphone Phomvihane was born on 12 December 1956 in Na Mao Village, Viengxay District, in the Houaphanh province.[2][3] His parents were Kaysone Phomvihane and Thongvin Phomvihane; Kaysone was a revolutionary and founding member of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party (LPRP) and served as its first secretary general[2][4] as well as the de-facto leader of Laos from 1975 until his death in 1992.[5] Through his father, Xaysomphone has Vietnamese ancestry.[6] Xaysomphone was his parents' eldest son and had five siblings, including Minister of Foreign Affairs Thongsavanh Phomvihane,[2] Minister of Finance Santiphab Phomvihane,[7][8] and Major General Sanyahak Phomvihane (died 2013).[9]

He attended primary and secondary school in Vietnam and China, before returning to Laos to attend the Military School in Houaphanh province from 1974 to 1976. From 1976 to 1973, he attended Moscow State University in the then–Soviet Union, before returning to Laos in 1983, spending a year as an instructor at the National Academy of Politics and Public Administration.[3] He attended the 67 School in Nanning, China and earnt a doctorate in political sciences from the Soviet Academy of Sciences.[2][10]

Political career

Xaysomphene joined the LPRD in 1984 and began his political career in 1987 at the Savannakhet provincial party office. In 1989 he became deputy governor, focusing on economic relationships with foreign countries.[2][3] At the 5th National Congress of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party in 1991, Xaysomphene was elected to the LPRP Central Committee; at the time, he was the Committee's youngest member. Two years later, in 1993, he became governor of Savannakhet province.[2]

In 1995, Xaysomphene left the governorship and became the Minister of Finance of Laos.[2][11] In addition, he led Lao delegations at World Bank and International Monetary Fund meetings.[11] During his tenure, the overseeing of business privatization was transferred from the Planning Committee to his ministry, increasing his power in the country.[12] At the beginning of the 4th Government of Laos, in 1998, he was made the minister in charge at the Office of the Prime Minister. In 2002, he was elected to National Assembly and in 2006, at the 8th National Congress, he became part of the 6th Standing Committee and was elected as the Assembly's vice president.[2]

At the beginning of 10th Politburo in 2016, Xaysomphene was promoted to rank seven in the Politiburo and made president of the Lao Front for National Development.[2][13] His promotion was part of the generational transition between Pathet Lao revolutionaries in government leadership to the subsequent generation of political leaders.[14] There, he was involved in disaster relief, including after Tropical Storm Sonca in 2017.[15] He remained in the role until 2021 at the 11th National Congress, when he rose to rank five and was elected president of the National Assembly for the 11th Politburo, succeeding Pany Yathotou.[2][16] He stayed president through the March 2026 elections of 12th Politburo, though there was speculation that he might become the country's prime minister. At the congress, he was promoted to rank two.[17][11] Xaysomphene died later that year, still in office.[18]

Xaysomphene was known to be pro-Vietnamese, politically, and in his roles helped facilitate high-level official visits, coordination between respective legislative forums, and exchanges in multiple fields such as education, culture and lawmaking between the two countries.[6][19] He was the president of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly in 2023 and 2024 and led Laos delegations abroad.[11]

Personal life and death

Xaysomphene was married to Viphavanh Phomvihane;[20] the couple had two children.[3]

Xaysomphone died on 8 August 2026, at the age of 69, due to an inflammatory vascular disease.[18] The LDPR and the Laotian government announced five days of national mourning following his death[21][18] and Vietnam announced two days of national mourning.[19] The day after Phomvihane's death, Vietnamese politician and then–Chairman of the National Assembly of Vietnam Trần Thanh Mẫn led a delegation from the Communist Party of Vietnam to pay their respects.[3]

A state funeral for Xaysomphone was held on 12 August at the That Luang esplanade; a eulogy was delivered by Thongloun Sisoulith.[22]

References

  1. ↑ "Mrs. Sounthone Xayachack Appointed Acting President of Lao National Assembly". Lao News Agency. Retrieved 23 August 2026.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Stuart-Fox, Martin; Creak, Simon (2023). Historical Dictionary of Laos (4th ed.). Rowman & Littlefield. pp. 499–500, 550. OCLC 1369651308.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 "Brief Biography of Comrade Xaysomphone Phomvihane". Lao News Agency. Retrieved 9 August 2026.
  4. ↑ Tappe, Oliver (2018). "On the Right Track? The Lao People's Democratic Republic in 2017". Southeast Asian Affairs: 168–183. ISSN 0377-5437. JSTOR 26492776.
  5. ↑ Freeman, Nick J. (2026). "Laos in 2025:The Art of Muddling Through". Southeast Asian Affairs: 125–126.
  6. 1 2 "Domestic and Social Issues". Southeast Asian Affairs. 2001. ProQuest 216939125.
  7. ↑ "Nepotism 'Strong in Laos' as Children of Party Faithful Fill Top Jobs". Radio Free Asia. 26 March 2021. Retrieved 10 August 2026.
  8. ↑ "Lao parliament approves cabinet reshuffle". Xinhua. 30 January 2023. Archived from the original on 14 August 2026. Retrieved 14 August 2026.
  9. ↑ "Laos' deputy defense minister Sanyahak passes away". nationthailand. 18 July 2013. Archived from the original on 28 November 2024. Retrieved 9 August 2026.
  10. ↑ "《南宁"六七"学校资料选编》首发式在老挝万象举行_新闻台_中国网络电视台". news.cntv.cn. Retrieved 9 August 2026.
  11. 1 2 3 4 Chanthavong, Namfon (8 August 2026). "Laos National Assembly President Xaysomphone Phomvihane Dies at 69". Laotian Times. Retrieved 9 August 2026.
  12. ↑ Bourdet, Yves (1997). "Laos in 1996: Please Don't Rush!". Asian Survey. 37 (1): 72–78. doi:10.2307/2645776. ISSN 0004-4687. JSTOR 2645776.Full access available to users of The Wikipedia Library.
  13. ↑ Sayalath, Soulatha; Creak, Simon (2017). "REGIME RENEWAL IN LAOS: The Tenth Congress of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party". Southeast Asian Affairs. pp. 179–200.ProQuest 1965551155
  14. ↑ Kyozuka, Tamaki (28 January 2016). "Laos prepares for a changing of the guard". Nikkei Asia. Retrieved 10 August 2026.
  15. ↑ Sipaphay, Malayluck (16 August 2017). "Sonca Leaves Savannakhet with Damages, Flooding". Lao News Agency. Retrieved 10 August 2026.
  16. ↑ "Laos politics: What will Thongloun Sisaoulith's leadership mean for Laos?". Economist Intelligence Unit. 20 January 2021.ProQuest 2479580777
  17. ↑ Hutt, David (1 April 2026). "Why Laos' Communist Party Chose Continuity". The Diplomat. ProQuest 3323877066.
  18. 1 2 3 "National Assembly President Xaysomphone Phomvihane dies at the age of 70". Vientiane Times. 8 August 2026. Retrieved 8 August 2026.
  19. 1 2 "Vietnam declares two-day national mourning for Lao NA President Xaysomphone Phomvihane". Voice of Vietnam World. 9 August 2026. Retrieved 9 August 2026.
  20. ↑ "The wife of Chairman of Lao National Assembly visits the Vietnam National Museum of History". Vietnam National Museum of History. 14 December 2021. Archived from the original on 11 May 2026. Retrieved 8 August 2026.
  21. ↑ "Lao NA president passed away". Xinhua News Agency. Archived from the original on 8 August 2026. Retrieved 9 August 2026.
  22. ↑ "Thousands pay final tribute to Lao National Assembly president Xaysomphone at state funeral". The Star. 13 August 2026. Retrieved 15 August 2026.
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