(KPL) The election of members of the 10th National Assembly (NA) and the 5th Provincial People’s Assemblies (PPA) is fundamentally the implementation of the Party’s guidelines and policies, particularly the resolutions of the 12th Party Congress aimed at strengthening and consolidating the People’s Democratic State to ensure it is truly of the people, by the people, and for the benefit of the people.

This was stated by Mr. Saysomphone Phomvihane, Member of the Party Central Political Bureau, President of the National Assembly, and Chairman of the National Election Committee, in an interview on January 30, 2026, regarding preparations for the upcoming elections.

Mr. Saysomphone noted that the 9th National Assembly and the 4th Provincial People’s Assemblies will complete their five-year terms in February 2026 in accordance with the Constitution and laws. As a result, the Party Central Committee, the National Assembly, the Government, and local administrations at all levels are actively and comprehensively preparing for the election of the new legislatures.

He emphasized that the election is a major national political event that creates conditions for civil servants, soldiers, police, and the Lao multi-ethnic people to exercise their democratic rights, as stipulated in Article 36 of the Constitution, including the right to vote and stand for election. The process also expands public participation in selecting representatives responsible for deliberating and deciding on fundamental national and local issues at National Assembly and Provincial People’s Assembly sessions.

The Chairman of the National Election Committee stressed that the election plays an important role in strengthening the state power system to meet political tasks in the new development period. It also reinforces the Party’s leadership over representative bodies by increasing the participation of senior Party and state leadership and management personnel as candidates.

According to Mr. Saysomphone, a total of 243 candidates are contesting 175 seats in the 10th National Assembly, while 1,041 candidates are competing for 745 seats in the Provincial People’s Assemblies. Among the candidates, those aged 45 and below account for 15–20 percent, 46–55 years for 35–45 percent, 56–60 years for 25–30 percent, and 60 years and above for 10–15 percent, with women accounting for 35 percent of the total. The oldest candidate is 69 years old, while the youngest is 36.

Candidates come from a broad range of sectors, including Party and state organizations, the Lao Front for National Construction, the Lao Veterans Association, mass organizations, national defense and security forces, educational institutions, state enterprises, cooperatives, private enterprises, and the business community.

KPL