Thayer Consultancy Background Brief:

ABN # 65 648 097 123

Laos: Cabinet Reshuffle
February 2, 2023

We request your views on the latest cabinet reshuffle in Laos on 30 January.

The Ministry of Finance has gone to the former governor of Savannakhet province,
Santiphab Phomvihane, who is the son of Kaysone Phomvihane. The Ministry of
Energy and Mines goes to the former governor of Saravan province, Phoxay Sayasone,
the son of Choummaly Sayasone.
A month on from Sonexay Siphandone’s accession to the prime ministership, does this
suggest more power is going to political dynasties and that Sonexay is trying to keep
those families happy?
And two of the three ministers promoted in the reshuffle came straight from
provincial governorships, not from the party or government apparatus. Does this
suggest Sonexay favors localism/decentralization?
ANSWER: On 30 December 2022, Deputy Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone was
elected prime minister by 149 votes out of 151 in the Lao National Assembly. Prime
Minister Siphandone then pledged to put “maintaining firm political stability and
security” at the top of his agenda. Sonexay is the son of Khamtay Siphandone, former
chairman of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party (LPRP) from 1992-2006 and the
President of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic from 1988-2006
On 19-20 January, Siphandone’s first Cabinet meeting included provincial governors.
Ten days later, the Lao National Assembly approved a Cabinet reshuffle involving three
ministries. Two incoming ministers were serving provincial governors, while the three
retiring ministers were given posts in provincial government.
Santiphab Phomvihane, reportedly the fourth son of Kaysone Phomvihane who led
the LPRP from 1955 to 1992, relinquished his post as governor of Savannakhet
province to become Minister of Finance. The outgoing minister was posted to
Savannakhet.
Phoxay Sayasone vacated his post as governor of Saravan province to take up the
portfolio of Minister of Energy and Mines. The outgoing minister was posted to
Saravan.
Ngampasong Muongmany was elevated from deputy minister to Minister of Public
Works and Transport. The outgoing minister was appointed to Luang Namtha
province.
 2

The vacancies of provincial governors in Savannakhet and Saravan provinces will be

filled by nomination by the Standing Committee of the respective Provincial People’s
Council and voted on by the full Provincial People’s Council thus ensuring continuity
at provincial level.
The appointments of Sonexay Siphandone and Santiphab Phomvihane, two sons
whose fathers led the LPRP, coupled with the rotation of provincial governors to
ministerial level and retiring ministers to provincial level cements a close knit personal
network to ensure political stability in Laos.

Suggested citation: Carlyle A. Thayer, “Laos: Cabinet Reshuffle,” Thayer Consultancy

Background Brief, February 2, 2023. All background briefs are posted on Scribd.com
(search for Thayer). To remove yourself from the mailing list type, UNSUBSCRIBE in
the Subject heading and hit the Reply key.

Thayer Consultancy provides political analysis of current regional security issues and
other research support to selected clients. Thayer Consultancy was officially
registered as a small business in Australia in 2002.