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A tale of two elections: Quiet in Laos, lively in Thailand. But some things remain the same
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Some 4.76 million citizens across Laos were eligible to vote in the Feb 22 national election.
PHOTO: AFP
- Laos held a low-key, single-party election on Feb 22, where the ruling LPRP vetted candidates and its leader was already determined before polling.
- Analysts view Laos' recent election as "political theatre" with no real change expected, reflecting a closed one-party system and repression of dissent.
- Young Laotians desire genuine change and better economic opportunities, despite disinterest in performative polls amidst rising debt and low productivity.
AI generated
Elections in Laos came and went quietly on Feb 22 with barely any international media coverage.
Some 4.76 million citizens across the landlocked South-east Asian state were eligible to vote in the national election, held once every five years, to pick legislators at the national and provincial levels.
