Souvanna Phouma
Encyclopedia
Prince Souvanna Phouma was the leader of the neutralist faction and prime minister
of the Kingdom of Laos
several times, from 1951–1952, 1956–1958, 1960 and 1962-1975.
, the last vice-king of Luang Prabang
and a nephew of King Sisavang Vong
of Laos, given a French education in Hanoi
, Paris and Grenoble
, where he obtained his degree in architecture
and engineering
. He returned to his homeland in 1931, marrying Aline Claire Allard, the daughter of a French father and a Lao mother, and entered the Public Works Service of French Indochina
Souvanna Phouma, together with his brother, Prince Phetsarath Rattanavongsa
(1891–1959) and his half-brother, Prince Souphanouvong
(1909–1995), at around the end of World War II, joined Lao Issara
(Free Laos) movement established to counter the French occupation and its provisional Vientiane government (1945–46).
When the French reoccupied Laos, Souvanna fled to exile in Bangkok
, but returned to Laos in 1949 as France began conceding autonomy to Laos.
Souvanna Phouma and his wife had a daughter, Princess Moune, who married Perry J. Stieglitz, cultural-affairs attaché of the U.S. embassy.
under the National Progressive Party
banner with a landslide victory, winning 15 of the 39 seats in the National Assembly
. He was prime minister until 1954.
After elections in December 1955, Souvanna Phouma returned to the prime ministership on a platform of national reconciliation. In August 1956 Souvanna and the Communist Pathet Lao
, which his half-brother Souphanouvong
headed agreed on broad proposals for a ‘government of national union’. Elections for 21 extra assembly seats were finally held in May 1958, with parties aligned with the Pathet Lao acquiring 13. Souphanouvong
entered the government as Economic Minister. Another Pathet Lao leader, Phoumi Vongvichit
, also acquired a Ministry. The United States considered Souvanna Phouma's return to office bad news.
In June 1958 Souvanna was again forced to resign by the rightists. The king accepted the vote as legal the next day when he signed Royal Ordinance No. 282, dismissing Souvanna Phouma's government and giving powers provisionally to the Revolutionary Committee. Royal Ordinance No. 283, approved a provisional government formed by Prince Boun Oum, who acted as front man for Phoui Sananikone
. The coalition between the rightists and Pathet Lao collapsed, and Laotian Civil War began.
Prime Minister of Laos
The Prime Minister of Laos is the head of government of the People's Democratic Republic of Laos.-Prime Ministers:-Trivia:Between December 1959 to December 1960, Laos had 6 different Prime Ministers, after being ousted by 6 different political coups....
of the Kingdom of Laos
Kingdom of Laos
The Kingdom of Laos was a sovereign state from 1953 until December 1975, when Pathet Lao overthrew the government and created the Lao People's Democratic Republic. Given self-rule in 1949 as part of a federation with the rest of French Indochina, the 1953 Franco-Lao Treaty finally established a...
several times, from 1951–1952, 1956–1958, 1960 and 1962-1975.
Early life
Souvanna Phouma was the son of BounkhongBounkhong
Prince Bounkhong, the son of Prince Souvanna Phomma, was the last uparaja of Luang Phrabang. He was granted the title of Chao Ratsaphakhinay in 1884. From 1911 to 1920, he was a member of the Government Council of French Indochina....
, the last vice-king of Luang Prabang
Luang Prabang
Luang Prabang, or Louangphrabang , is a city located in north central Laos, where the Nam Khan river meets the Mekong River about north of Vientiane. It is the capital of Luang Prabang Province...
and a nephew of King Sisavang Vong
Sisavang Vong
Sisavang Phoulivong , was king of Kingdom of Luang Phrabang and later Kingdom of Laos from 28 April 1904 until his death on 20 October 1959.-Early life:...
of Laos, given a French education in Hanoi
Hanoi
Hanoi , is the capital of Vietnam and the country's second largest city. Its population in 2009 was estimated at 2.6 million for urban districts, 6.5 million for the metropolitan jurisdiction. From 1010 until 1802, it was the most important political centre of Vietnam...
, Paris and Grenoble
Grenoble
Grenoble is a city in southeastern France, at the foot of the French Alps where the river Drac joins the Isère. Located in the Rhône-Alpes region, Grenoble is the capital of the department of Isère...
, where he obtained his degree in architecture
Architecture
Architecture is both the process and product of planning, designing and construction. Architectural works, in the material form of buildings, are often perceived as cultural and political symbols and as works of art...
and engineering
Engineering
Engineering is the discipline, art, skill and profession of acquiring and applying scientific, mathematical, economic, social, and practical knowledge, in order to design and build structures, machines, devices, systems, materials and processes that safely realize improvements to the lives of...
. He returned to his homeland in 1931, marrying Aline Claire Allard, the daughter of a French father and a Lao mother, and entered the Public Works Service of French Indochina
Souvanna Phouma, together with his brother, Prince Phetsarath Rattanavongsa
Phetsarath Rattanavongsa
Prince Phetsarath Rattanavongsa was prime minister of Laos from 1942 to 1945, and was the first and last vice-king of the Kingdom of Laos.-Early life:Phetsarath was born on 19 January 1890 in Luang Prabang, the second son of...
(1891–1959) and his half-brother, Prince Souphanouvong
Souphanouvong
Prince Souphanouvong was, along with his half-brother Prince Souvanna Phouma and Prince Boun Oum of Champasak, one of the “Three Princes” who represented respectively the communist , neutralist, and royalist political factions in Laos...
(1909–1995), at around the end of World War II, joined Lao Issara
Lao Issara
The Lao Issara was an anti-French, non-communist nationalist movement formed in 1945 by Prince Phetsarath. This short-lived movement emerged after the Japanese defeat in World War II and became the government of Laos before the return of the French. It aimed to prevent the French from restoring...
(Free Laos) movement established to counter the French occupation and its provisional Vientiane government (1945–46).
When the French reoccupied Laos, Souvanna fled to exile in Bangkok
Bangkok
Bangkok is the capital and largest urban area city in Thailand. It is known in Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon or simply Krung Thep , meaning "city of angels." The full name of Bangkok is Krung Thep Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahintharayutthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom...
, but returned to Laos in 1949 as France began conceding autonomy to Laos.
Souvanna Phouma and his wife had a daughter, Princess Moune, who married Perry J. Stieglitz, cultural-affairs attaché of the U.S. embassy.
Prime Ministership
In 1951, Souvanna became Prime Minister of LaosPrime Minister of Laos
The Prime Minister of Laos is the head of government of the People's Democratic Republic of Laos.-Prime Ministers:-Trivia:Between December 1959 to December 1960, Laos had 6 different Prime Ministers, after being ousted by 6 different political coups....
under the National Progressive Party
National Progressive Party (Laos)
National Progressive Party was a political party in Laos in the 1950s. The party was founded in 1950.In the August 1951 elections for the National Assembly of Laos, the party won 15 of 39 seats, which was considered a landslide victory...
banner with a landslide victory, winning 15 of the 39 seats in the National Assembly
National Assembly of Laos
The unicameral National Assembly of Laos is the parliament of Laos. It was established in its current form by the Lao Constitution of 1991 , replacing the Supreme People's Assembly. After the December 1997 elections, the number of seats were increased to 99, a new structure was announced and...
. He was prime minister until 1954.
After elections in December 1955, Souvanna Phouma returned to the prime ministership on a platform of national reconciliation. In August 1956 Souvanna and the Communist Pathet Lao
Pathet Lao
The Pathet Lao was a communist political movement and organization in Laos, formed in the mid-20th century. The group was ultimately successful in assuming political power after the Laotian Civil War. The Pathet Lao were always closely associated with Vietnamese communists...
, which his half-brother Souphanouvong
Souphanouvong
Prince Souphanouvong was, along with his half-brother Prince Souvanna Phouma and Prince Boun Oum of Champasak, one of the “Three Princes” who represented respectively the communist , neutralist, and royalist political factions in Laos...
headed agreed on broad proposals for a ‘government of national union’. Elections for 21 extra assembly seats were finally held in May 1958, with parties aligned with the Pathet Lao acquiring 13. Souphanouvong
Souphanouvong
Prince Souphanouvong was, along with his half-brother Prince Souvanna Phouma and Prince Boun Oum of Champasak, one of the “Three Princes” who represented respectively the communist , neutralist, and royalist political factions in Laos...
entered the government as Economic Minister. Another Pathet Lao leader, Phoumi Vongvichit
Phoumi Vongvichit
Phoumi Vongvichit was a leading figure of the Pathet Lao and an elder statesman of the Lao People's Democratic Republic....
, also acquired a Ministry. The United States considered Souvanna Phouma's return to office bad news.
In June 1958 Souvanna was again forced to resign by the rightists. The king accepted the vote as legal the next day when he signed Royal Ordinance No. 282, dismissing Souvanna Phouma's government and giving powers provisionally to the Revolutionary Committee. Royal Ordinance No. 283, approved a provisional government formed by Prince Boun Oum, who acted as front man for Phoui Sananikone
Phoui Sananikone
Phoui Sananikone was Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Laos on two occasions in 1950 to 1951 and again from 1958 to 1959, and also served as Foreign Minister on multiple occasions.-Prime Ministership:...
. The coalition between the rightists and Pathet Lao collapsed, and Laotian Civil War began.