Xaysomphone Phomvihane, President of Laos’ National Assembly and one of the country’s most senior political figures, has died aged 69, officials announced on 8 August.
Lao authorities said Xaysomphone’s body was taken to National Assembly Hall No. 6, where official funeral preparations are underway. According to state media, Laos will mourn his death from 9 to 13 August, and the final funeral ceremony will be held on 13 August
Born on 14 December 1956 in Houaphanh, Xaysomphone spent more than three decades moving through some of Laos’ most important political and government positions.
Politics was familiar territory for him from an early age.
His father, Kaysone Phomvihane, was one of the founding figures of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party and served as its general secretary for more than two decades. His mother was Thongvin Phomvihane, while several of his brothers also went on to hold senior government positions.
Among them is Thongsavanh Phomvihane, Laos’ current deputy prime minister and foreign minister.
From provincial government to parliament
Xaysomphone studied in the Soviet Union, where he earned a doctorate in political economy before returning to Laos and beginning his government career in Savannakhet Province. He served first as deputy governor and later as governor from 1989 to 1995.
His move to the national government came in 1995, when he was appointed finance minister. He remained in the post until 1998 and represented Laos at international financial meetings, including those of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank.
Xaysomphone later served as minister to the Prime Minister’s Office before entering the National Assembly in 2006. His influence within the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party continued to grow, and in 2016 he joined the Politburo while also becoming chairman of the Central Committee of the Lao Front for National Construction.
Five years later, lawmakers elected him president of the National Assembly.
He was re-elected in March 2026 to lead the country’s 10th legislature.
His final years in the role came as Laos faced some of its toughest economic challenges in decades, with high inflation, rising living costs and growing pressure on household incomes.
A familiar face in regional diplomacy
Beyond Laos, Xaysomphone also played a role in regional parliamentary diplomacy.
He served as president of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly from 2023 to 2024. He also led Lao parliamentary delegations on overseas visits and met senior officials from countries including China, Vietnam and Cuba.
His death leaves the National Assembly without the president lawmakers re-elected just months ago to lead the new parliamentary term.
In Vientiane, the Party Central Committee Office and the National Assembly are overseeing preparations for his official funeral.
Xaysomphone leaves behind more than three decades in public life and a political career closely tied to one of Laos’ most influential families.
