Prime minister of Laos resigns…honourably????

AFP/File – Laos has announced a new prime minister after the surprise resignation of Bouasone Bouphavanh, seen here …photo: AFP

HANOI (AFP) – Laos on Thursday announced a new prime minister after the surprise resignation of Bouasone Bouphavanh just months before his term was to end during a communist party Congress.

“We have a new prime minister,” government spokesman Khenthong Nuanthasing told AFP from Laos. “The former prime minister resigned.”

Bouasone, who had spent more than four years in office, was replaced by Thongsing Thammavong, president of the communist-dominated National Assembly, Khenthong said.

Thongsing’s leadership was approved unanimously by the 101 assembly members present for the vote after Bouasone’s surprise departure, he added.