VIENTIANE : The Laos National Assembly on Friday (Dec 30) elected Sonexay Siphandone (pic) as the country's new Prime Minister to replace Phankham Viphavanh who has resigned citing health reasons.

The Lao cabinet was reshuffled at the conclusion of the fourth ordinary session of the National Assembly (Ninth Legislature) of Laos in Vientiane, according to local TV reports.

The assembly approved the nomination from Lao President Thongloun Sisoulith, naming Sonexay Siphandone as the new prime minister, with an overwhelming majority of 149 out of 151 votes.

Phankham Viphavanh, 71, said in his speech at the assembly that he was retiring from politics.

Phankham elected as prime minister in March 2021, and once served as vice president, vice prime minister, minister of education of Laos, as well as Huaphan provincial governor.

Sonexay, a politburo member of the ruling Lao People's Revolutionary Party (LPRP) central committee, was elected to the LPRP Central Committee at the Eighth National Congress in 2006, and to the LPRP Politburo at the 10th National Congress in 2016.

Sonexay served as deputy prime minister of the Lao government before Friday's election.

  - Xinhua