The Tamesis
January 9, 2026
Vientiane – More than 800 delegates attending the 12th National Congress of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party on Wednesday exercised their democratic right to elect members of the party’s Central Committee to lead the country for the next five years (2026-2030).
Representatives at the central and local levels, including 123 female representatives, represent a total of 421,865 party members nationwide.
The election ended late Wednesday afternoon and the names of newly elected lawmakers will be officially announced on Thursday, the final day of the three-day Congress.
The election was held after Thongloun Sisoulith, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee, delivered a farewell speech on behalf of the 11th Party Central Committee, marking the end of the 11th Party Central Committee’s five-year term from 2021 to 2025.
Campan Pengyaphon, director of the Propaganda and Training Committee of the 11th Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam, said at the end of the second day of the conference that the conference achieved its expected goals.
Speaker of the National Assembly, Mr Xaysomphone Phomvihane, on Wednesday voted for new members of the party’s central committee during the ongoing national party congress. Photo: Vientiane Times
Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone on Wednesday voted to elect new members to the party’s central committee, one of the main functions of the national party congress. Photo: Vientiane Times
“The representatives showed a high sense of responsibility and successfully performed their duties,” he told local media.
The 12th Central Committee will succeed the 11th Central Committee, which consists of 71 members.
On Thursday, the newly elected 12th Central Committee of the party will hold its first plenary session to elect the party general secretary, Politburo members and other key party institutions.
After the results of the meeting are announced, the Congress will review and adopt the draft resolution of the 12th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, plan the direction of national development, and promote Laos to follow the path of socialism.
The incoming party general secretary will deliver a closing speech, marking the successful conclusion of the three-day National Congress.
