Souvanna Phouma
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Prince Souvanna Phouma (7 October 1901-January 10, 1984) 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.
Souvanna Phouma was born into the vice-royal family of Luang Prabang,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.
Souvanna Phouma, together with his brother, Prince Phetsarath Rattanavongsa (1891-1959) and his half-brother, Prince Souphanouvong (1909-1995), became involved in Laotian politics at around the end of World War II, at which time the Lao Issara was established to counter the French occupation.
[edit] Prime Ministership
In 1951 Souvanna became Prime Minister of Laos with a landslide victory.
Elections in December 1955, Souvanna Phouma return to the prime ministership on a platform of national reconciliation. In August 1956 Souvanna and the Pathet Lao leadership 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, approving a provisional government formed by Prince Boun Oum, who acted as front man for Phoui Sananikone,the king had scruples about naming a general to be prime minister . The conflict in the 1960 was intensifying and Kong Le captured Vientiane and asked for a restoration of neutrality. Souvanna Phouma returned as Prime Minister, and subsequently reached an agreement with Souphanouvong on behalf of the Pathet Lao. In December 1960, however, Royal Lao troops under rightist command stormed Vientiane. Kong Le, his troops and Souvanna fled to the Pathet Lao-controlled Plain of Jars. The communist world and some non-aligned nations like India now upheld Souvanna as Lao rightful Prime Minister. The United States and the West recognised a new military-controlled Vientiane government, technically under another prince,Boun Oum, as Prime Minister.
Despite American intrigue in Lao up to this point, the incoming United States President in January 1961, John F Kennedy, concluded that a neutral Lao was desirable. In May 1961 another Geneva Conference called once more for the neutralisation of Lao. In June the three Lao princes, Boun Oum, Souvanna Phouma, and Souphanouvong agreed to a second attempt at coalition government.
The new government came into existence in July 1962 with Souvanna as Prime Minister. The coalition led a tenuous existence, beset by tension, provocation and assassination until mid-1964 when its Pathet Lao component effectively abandoned it, later dismissing it as a ‘United States puppet’. Souvanna held on as Prime Minister, but he and other neutralists were now reduced to irrelevance. Lao was becoming one of the key theatres of war in the sharply escalating conflict in Vietnam.In 1975 he was removed from office by the new communist government.
| Preceded by Phoui Sananikone |
Prime Minister of Laos 1951-1954 |
Succeeded by Katay Don Sasorith |
| Preceded by Katay Don Sasorith |
Prime Minister of Laos 1956-1958 |
Succeeded by Phoui Sananikone |
| Preceded by Somsanith |
Prime Minister of Laos 1960 |
Succeeded by Boun Oum |
| Preceded by Boun Oum |
Prime Minister of Laos 1962-1975 |
Succeeded by Kaysone Phomvihane |
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