Voting begins in Laos' parliamentary elections

Laos national flags and Lao People's Revolutionary Party flags flutter in the wind ahead of the election in Vientiane on Feb 19, 2026. The Feb 22 election will see 243 candidates contest 175 seats after being pre-selected by the ruling communist party. The Southeast Asian nation has no opposition parties, no fully independent news outlets, and the ruling Lao People's Revolutionary Party has held power for more than 50 years. - Photo: AFP

VIENTIANE: Voting began at 7am local time on Sunday (Feb 22) for the election of members of the Lao National Assembly's 10th legislature and the fifth Provincial People's Councils in Laos.

More than 4.76 million eligible voters nationwide are expected to cast their ballots.

A total of 175 members will be elected to the 10th National Assembly, along with 745 members to serve on the fifth Provincial People's Councils. - Xinhua