Lao People’s Democratic Republic
Peace Independence Democracy Unity Prosperity

Report
of the National Election Committee
on the Results of the Election and Features of Members of the National Assembly,
VI^th Legislature
to the Inaugural Session of the National Assembly, VI^th Legislature

_____________________

            Respected  Presidium,

Honorable Members of the National Assembly, and

Distinguished Guests,

Today, it is a high privilege for me to represent the National Election Committee (NEC) in presenting a report on the election’s results and features of Members of the National Assembly (MNAs) of the VI^th Legislature to the Inaugural Session of the National Assembly (NA), VI^th Legislature.

            To ensure the proper election of MNAs of the VI^th Legislature in compliance with principles and stages as embraced in the Constitution and laws, and to ensure this election as the responsibilities of the people, by the people and for the people, the Party Political Bureau issued a resolution calling for increased guidance in the election of MNAs of the VI^th Legislature, aiming at proceeding the election with legitimacy and achievements.

            In pursuance with the Constitution of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR), the President of the Lao PDR issued a Presidential Decree enacting the date of the election of Members to the NA, VI^th Legislature, and the appointment of the NEC, so that all constituencies, offices, agencies and units nationwide focused on the preparation and the electoral procedure with fine success.

            To implement such Presidential Decree, the NEC provided guidance to the electoral committees at local levels throughout the country in arranging facilities to ensure the election, in particular, the preparation of the institution, necessary documents and materials for the election, and etc...; seminars on fundamental issues for the preparation and the electoral procedure were conducted to key staff nationwide, aiming at ensuring this election to be proceeded with legitimacy, fully enduring the enhancement of democratic right of voters with an enthusiastic atmosphere throughout the country.

            Bearing in mind the above-mentioned initiatives, all constituencies, offices, agencies and units nationwide organized seminars and political education on the electoral documents to a range of civil servants , workers, defense and security forces, and the pluri-ethnic people as well as the social strata  throughout the country in a universal and comprehensive manner. Throughout seminars, they have been better aware about the NA role; recognized the importance of the election, further grasped the rule of law, mainly: the Electoral Law; raised the awareness on the national ownership, patriotism, endearment of the people’s democratic regime and solidarity of the entire people in a progressive and in-depth manner. Importantly, these efforts have improved and upgraded public awareness on the exercise of citizens’ fundamental rights and obligations as enshrined in the Constitution and laws. With the ownership of the pluri-ethnic people and the social strata, this election was properly proceeded with set purposes.

            Based on criteria as stated in the Electoral Law to select the personnel for running election with the public consultation in a comprehensive way, the personnel with more public advocacy and positive qualifications were selected for candidacy composing of representatives from the social strata, sex, ethnic groups, sectors and independent candidature.

            Mass media means were broadly used for dissemination on the preparation and election process both internally and internationally; so that all Lao citizens and foreigners acknowledged and understood about the preparation and vote on MNAs with accuracy.

             During this preparation and electoral process, our staff strongly turned to grass-roots to mobilize and to form mass movements on various fields of the entire people in implementing 2 strategic tasks, such as: the national safeguarding and development. We managed to encourage all walks of life with their consciousness, being involved in the preparation and electoral process with the ownership to mass movements for better change. There was a contribution to the strengthening of grass-roots and relationship between the staff and the pluri-ethnic people positively. Through the broadly executing process  of the people, numerous units, collectives and individuals gained prominence, reflecting the ownership of participation to the preparation and electoral process of all institutions and with enthusiasm.

            In the basis of the above-mentioned efforts, on 30 April 2006, voters throughout the country exercised their right to elect their representatives in a joyful and enthusiastic atmosphere. The exercise of their electoral rights and obligations by the voters has generally unfolded in total compliance with the Law on the Election of Members of the National Assembly and has extensively enhanced the people’s democratic rights.

            Simultaneously, realizing that the political education has not been yet appropriately and firmly carried out to each target in many areas; the education in some areas has not been yet considered in  linkage with the supervision and control of the exercise of civil rights and obligations, as well as the political fulfillment of each unit, sectors; the personnel consultation for candidacy was conducted in a hurry; some materials for seminars have not been yet concisely prepared; planning of practices has not been yet detailed in some fields; the mobilization of mass movements in each locality has not been consolidated and expanded at grass-roots. The coordination among various parties has not been well carried out; the reporting system of some information has not been yet precise and timely.

            Distinguished Delegates,

            On 30 April 2006, MNAs were unanimously elected nationwide from 07:00 a.m. to 05:00 p.m. in the same day, in which:

-     The national territory was divided into 17 electorates with 5,453 polling units. Out of a total of 2,826,580 voters, 2,819,904 or 99.76 % exercised their voting rights. Eligible votes accounted for 2,819,757 covering 99.99 % votes. The election was properly proceeded, and the security was totally ensured.

            It may be evaluated that the success of the election of Members to the NA of the VI^th Legislature is a victory of solid political significance for our Nation, attesting to the unity and confidence placed by the entire people in the Party’s leadership. It is a result of the implementation on the Party policy of restructuring, and more specifically on the VIII^th Party’s Congress Resolution, of the Constitution and laws’ enforcement, as well as the exercise of the citizens’ fundamental rights and obligations in further reinforcing and developing the people’s democratic regime, and namely in strengthening the public administration along the directive of building a genuine State of the people, by the people and for the benefit of people, in contributing to the enhancement of political stability, national solidarity and upholding the role of the country to international arena.

Features of Members to the NA of the VI^th Legislature

            175 candidates, of which 40 women, run for the election to the NA of the VI^th Legislature.

            Among these numbers, 115 Members were elected, of which 29 women:

-          41 Members, of which 6 women, belong to sectors and agencies at the central level;

-          74 Members, of which 23 women, derive from local levels;

47 Members of the V^th Legislature, of which 13 women, were re-elected.

Ethnic structure of Members to the NA:

-     Lao Loum ethnic group                          92 Members              21        women;

-     Lao Theung ethnic group                       17 Members              6          women;

-     Lao Soung ethnic group             6 Members               2          women.

Distribution of Members by age group:

▪     36-40 years                                 03        Members;

▪     41-45 years                                 06        Members;

▪     46-50 years                                 30        Members;

▪     51-55 years                                 35        Members;

▪     56-60 years                                 27        Members;

▪     61 years and over                       14        Members;

▪     Highest age                                 69        years;

▪     Lowest age                                  36        years;

▪     Average age                                53        years.

Educational level:

-     Complete lower secondary education              10        Members

-     Complete upper secondary education 105     Members

Academic qualifications:

-          Lower and intermediate level                            15        Members;

-          Higher diploma and bachelor degree               68        Members;

-          Masters and Ph.D.                                              32        Members.

            Distinguished Delegates and Guests,

            Upon the review of the election process, the NEC deems that all 115 Members elected to the NA of the VI^th Legislature by eligible voters throughout the country on 30 April 2006, fully meet the criteria and conditions outlined by the Law on the Election of Members of the National Assembly.

            In conformity with Article 5 and Article 12 of the Law on the Election of Members of the National Assembly, from the announcement by the NEC of the list of elected Members to the VI^th Legislature to the present time, no objection neither requests to remove any Member was lodged. It is, therefore, affirmed that candidates elected to the NA of the VI^th Legislature on 30 April 2006, completely satisfy the legal requirements to honorably represent the nationwide pluri-ethnic people’s right of ownership.

            Hence, the NEC, hereby, officially certifies the eligibility of elected Members to the NA of the VI^th Legislature to the Inaugural Session of the VI^th Legislature.

Thank you.