Laos Holds 10th National Assembly and Provincial Elections

On 22/02/2026, Laos conducted elections for the 10th National Assembly and the 5th Provincial People’s Councils, with approximately 4.76 million eligible voters expected to participate nationwide. The vote was organized under the authority of the ruling Lao People's Revolutionary Party, the country’s only legally recognized political party, reflecting the one-party structure of the Lao political system. Voters selected 175 deputies to serve in the National Assembly, an increase from 164 seats in the previous legislature elected in 2021. The candidates numbered 243, all pre-approved through the party-led nomination process. At the provincial level, citizens simultaneously elected 745 representatives to 18 Provincial People’s Councils, which function as local legislative bodies. Polling stations opened across the country, including in the capital, Vientiane, where President and LPRP General Secretary Thongloun Sisoulith cast his ballot at Polling Station No. 1. The elections followed the 12th National Congress of the LPRP in January 2026, during which Thongloun Sisoulith was re-elected as party General Secretary for a second five-year term. The newly elected National Assembly is tasked with implementing the country’s 10th Five-Year Socio-Economic Development Plan for 2026 to 2030. According to official statements, the plan prioritizes administrative modernization, economic stabilization, and efforts to reduce public debt. Laos operates under a centralized political framework in which the LPRP maintains authority over candidate selection and governance. Independent observers and human rights organizations have consistently characterized Lao elections as non-competitive, citing the absence of legally recognized opposition parties and the pre-screening of candidates. Official turnout figures and final seat distributions were expected to be announced by state authorities following the completion of vote counting procedures.