On December 30, the Lao National Assembly confirmed Sonexay Siphandone, the country's deputy prime minister, to succeed Phankham Viphavanh as prime minister.

At the meeting, the IX Lao National Assembly approved the proposal of President Thongloun Sisoulith, allowing Mr. Phankham Viphavanh, Politburo member and Prime Minister of Laos, to retire for health reasons. appointed Mr. Sonexay Siphandone, Deputy Prime Minister, to hold the position of Prime Minister of the Lao Government. As a result, Mr. Sonexay Siphandone received a majority of votes, officially becoming the new head of the Lao Government.

Mr. Phankham Viphavanh, the former prime minister of Laos, was born on April 14, 1951, has a Ph.D., and has spent his whole career in the country's educational system.

He served as Laos' Deputy Minister and Chairman of the Prime Minister's Office from 2003 to 2005, and then as Houaphanh Province's Party Secretary and Governor after being elected to the 8th Party Central Committee in 2006.

After serving as the Minister of Education and Sports and the Chairman of the Central Committee of the Laos–Vietnam Friendship Association, he was elected to the IX Lao Politburo in 2011. Since 2014, he has served as Laos's Minister of Education and Sports in addition to his role as Deputy Prime Minister.

In April of 2016, he was re-elected to serve as Laos' vice president and as a member of the Politburo. After being trusted and re-elected to the 11th Politburo in March 2021, he was chosen as Laos' Prime Minister.

Mr. Sonexay Siphandone is the son of former Lao President General Khamtai Siphandone and was born on January 26, 1966 in Huaphanh province (Laos revolutionary base), the hometown of Champasak province. He is a member of the Lao People's Army's armored force and has a Master's degree and an Advanced Diploma in Political Theory.

Mr. Sonexay Siphandone has served as the Prime Minister's Chief of Staff, Minister of Planning and Investment, Deputy Prime Minister in charge of the economy (in 2012), and Minister of Planning and Investment (in 2012) prior to this.

Sonexay Siphandone, the new prime minister of Laos, addressed the National Assembly and vowed to work with members of the government to ensure that their duties are carried out in accordance with the Constitution and laws of the Lao People's Democratic Republic; willing to dedicate their strength, intelligence, and capacity with a strong sense of responsibility to join the leaders of the Party and State at the central and local levels in implementing the Resolution of the 11th Party Congress, the plan for the country's development. The Nineth Five-Year Plan for Socioeconomic Development, Two National Programs, and Resolutions of the Ninth National Assembly were a success, with a particular emphasis on important duties for the future.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh also delivered a message of congratulations to the recently elected Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone.

In his congratulations message, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh expressed his conviction that the Lao people would continue to accomplish great things under the wise leadership of the Lao Party, State, and Government headed by Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh wishes that he and Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone continue to cultivate and consolidate the great friendship, special solidarity, and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Laos for the practical benefit of the two peoples, while also contributing to regional and global peace, stability, and development.