President of the National Assembly of Laos
The President of the National Assembly of the Lao People's Democratic Republic is the speaker of the National Assembly of Laos. Before 1991, the President of the Standing Committee of the Supreme People's Assembly of the Lao People's Democratic Republic served as head of state and chairman of the presidium of the National Assembly's predecessor, the Supreme People's Assembly. The office was later merged with that of parliamentary president while the head of state became the President of Laos.
Image: Souphanouvong 1978
Image: Thongsing Thammavong 2012
Image: Pany Yathotou
Prince Souphanouvong, nicknamed the Red Prince, was along with his half-brother Prince Souvanna Phouma and Prince Boun Oum of Champasak, one of the "Three Princes" who represented respectively the communist (pro-Vietnam), neutralist and royalist political factions in Laos. He was the President of Laos from December 1975 to October 1986.
Souphanouvong c. 1978
Souphanouvong (left) with Viet Minh leader Ho Chi Minh (center) and former emperor of Vietnam Bảo Đại
Souphanouvong in 1974