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Laos
traces its history to the kingdom of Lan Xang, founded
in the fourteenth century by Fa Ngum, himself descended
from a long line of Lao kings, tracking back to Khoun
Boulom. Lan-Xang prospered until the eighteenth century,
when the kingdom was divided into three principalities,
which eventually came under Siamese suzerainty. In the
19th century, Luang Prabang was incorporated into the
'Protectorate' of French Indochina, and shortly thereafter,
the Kingdom of Champasak and the territory of Vientiane
were also added to the protectorate. Under the French,
Vientiane once again became the capital of a unified
Lao state.
The
country declared its independence in 1945, but the French
under De Gaulle re-asserted their control and only in
1950 was Laos granted semi-autonomy as an "associated
state" within the French Union.
Laos
is a communist single-party socialist republic. The
only legal political party is the Lao People's Revolutionary
Party (LPRP). The head of state is President Choummaly
Sayasone, who also is secretary-general (leader) of
the LPRP. The head of government is Prime Minister Bouasone
Bouphavanh. Government policies are determined by the
party through the all-powerful nine-member Politburo
and the 49-member Central Committee. Important government
decisions are vetted by the Council of Ministers.
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