Laotian lawmakers overwhelmingly voted into office a new prime minister after the country’s former leader stepped down over health concerns, state media reported Friday. /bssnews/

Laotian lawmakers overwhelmingly voted into office a new prime minister after the country’s former leader stepped down over health concerns, state media reported Friday. Sonexay Siphandone, Laos’s former deputy prime minister, took leadership of the communist nation with 149 of 151 national parliamentary votes. “I will raise the revolutionary spirit to a higher level,” Siphandone told the country’s parliament as he accepted the role. AFP

Phankham Viphavanh, at the time the prime minister of Laos, arrives to attend the EU-ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) summit at the European Council headquarters in Brussels on Dec. 14, 2022. Former prime minister Phankham Viphavanh had offered his resignation to the National Assembly earlier on Friday, citing health concerns. “When the country is faced with more difficulties, I’m not able to handle this hard duty anymore,” said the 72-year-old, who took office in March last year. AFP