President of Kaona

President of Republic of Kaona
ประธานาธิบดี แห่ง สาธารณรัฐ ข้าวนาำ Praṭhānāṭhibdī h̄æ̀ng s̄āṭhārṇrạṭ̄h Kâaona
Incumbent Lursakdi Sonakul since 14th February 2014
Style	His/Her Excellency
Member of	Council of Ministers National Security Council
Residence	Presidential Palace
Appointer	Direct election
Term length	Four years; renewable once
Constituting instrument	Constitution of Kaona
Inaugural holder	Somjit Wonjongkam (inaugural) Yuttapong Rakkiatgym (current constitution)
Deputy	Prime Minister
Salary	NGN 200,000,000 ($219,058.05)

The President of the Republic of Kaona (Kaonese: ประธานาธิบดี แห่ง สาธารณรัฐ ข้าวนาำ, Praṭhānāṭhibdī h̄æ̀ng s̄āṭhārṇrạṭ̄h Kâaona; Bassac: ປະທານາທິບໍດີ ແຫ່ງ ສາທາລະນະລັດ ຂອງ ເຂົ້າສະໜາມ, Pathanathibodi aehng sathalanalad khong Khaosanam) is the head of state and highest executive position of the Republic of Kaona. The President also serves as commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of Kaona. It is the highest office of state in Kaona.

The President has been the head of state since the 1948 coup that deposed the Ratchakao monarchy. Under the 1954 constitution the presidency was elected through an electoral collage rather then the current system of direct election for a term of six years. The presidency was replaced as head of state by the Chairman of the National Council for the Defence of Democracy (NCDD), a military dictator from 1970 to 1982 when the current constitution was passed which reintroduced democratic rule as well as electing the president directly for the first time.

The presidency is restricted to serving two consecutive four year terms with elections performed via a two round system. Officially the president has the power to veto certain legislation, appoint the government and approve of ministers, ratifies treaties, nominates members of the Supreme and Constitutional Courts with parliamentary approval, declare war and grant pardons. The president can also dismiss the prime minister and cabinet although has to do so with parliamentary approval. The president is often considered to have control over all foreign and defence policy compared to the prime minister and cabinet which handle domestic policy. In the event of a vacancy of the president the prime minister serves the reminder of their presidential term.

The current president is Lursakdi Sonakul, Kaona's first female president, who is a member of the People's Democrat Party. Sonakul was elected in the 2013-14 presidential election taking office on the 14^th February 2014 and was re-elected at the 2017-18 presidential election.

List

  Amred Forces of Kaona
  People's Justice Party
  People's Party of Kaona
  People's Revolutionary Alliance
  Chart Pattana Party
  Aspiration Party
  People's Democrat Party

No.	Portrait	Name	Took office	Left office	Days	Election	Prime Minister(s)	Political Party
Chairman of the Committee of National Reconstruction
1		Chom Phon Somjit Wonjongkam สมจิตร วันจงคำ (1905-1967)	10th August 1948	24th May 1950	1 year, 9 months and 14 days	N/A	N/A	Military
			Having served with distinction during the Hmukeaathale War Wonjongkam came to power in a coup d'état overthrowing the Ratchakao monarchy and creating a provisional military government, the Committee of National Reconstruction. A permanent constitution was signed in 1950 which saw Wonjongkam take the formal role of president.
President of the Republic
(1)		Somjit Wonjongkam สมจิตร วันจงคำ (1905-1967)	24th May 1950	3rd August 1967	17 years, 2 months and 10 days	1950 1956 1962	Nongchai Titawasira Kanok Pukkavesh Noppadorn Kamamana	PJP
			Wonjongkam was elected president as head of the pro-regime People's Justice Party (PJP) to a six year term in 1950, being re-elected in 1956 and 1962. During Wonjongkam's presidency the country underwent economic development via a model of import substitution industrialisation as well as implementing a variety of progressive social reforms. However Wonjongkam was widely regarded as a dictator creating a de facto one-party state. In the latter half of his rule Wonjongkam moved from a militaristic to a more technocratic approach promoting civilian bureaucrats to high ranking positions. He died in office in 1967.
2		Noppadorn Kamamana นพดล กามะมานะ (1910-1981)	3rd August 1967	22nd March 1970	2 years, 7 months and 19 days	1968	Somyot Prasarttong Sanoh Pakchotanon	PJP
			A former prime minister under Wonjongkam Kamamana's presidency saw a partial democratisation of the country. However increasing violence from ethnic minority groups alongside continuing traditionalist opposition to the republican regime led to the state to enter a crisis during Kamamana's rule and in 1970 he was deposed in a coup d'état.
Chairman of the National Council for the Defence of Democracy
3		Chom Phon Kanok Pukkavesh กนก พุกกะเวส (1912-1976)	22nd March 1970	16th June 1976	6 years and 23 days	N/A	Sukampol Kulapongvanich	Military
			Coming to power as head of the National Council for the Defence of Democracy (NCDD) Pukkavesh led an aggressive strategy of counter-insurgency against militant groups whilst supporting an expansionist foreign policy abroad. His government was seen as incredibly repressive and worsened social conflict in the country. In 1976 he was gunned down by an unknown assailant.
4		Chom phon ruea Yuttapong Rakkiatgym ยุทธพงษ์ รักเกียรติยิม (1919-2020)	16th June 1976	14th February 1982	5 years, 7 months and 29 days	N/A	Sukampol Kulapongvanich Yongyuth Chatikavanij	Military
			A moderate member of the ruling junta, Rakkiatgym focused on continuing the aggressive counter-insurgency strategy whilst also engaging in peace talks with more moderate opposition groups. The late 1970's Phuko Accords saw Rakkiatgym implement a series of ceasefires and demobilisation of rebel groups and in 1981 passed a new constitution that paved the way for multi-party elections.
President of the Republic
(4)		Yuttapong Rakkiatgym ยุทธพงษ์ รักเกียรติยิม (1919-2020)	14th February 1982	14th February 1990	8 years	1981-82 1985-86	Yongyuth Chatikavanij Thaklaew Atchariyaboonyong	PPK
			Rakkiatgym was elected to the presidency in 1982 and was re-elected in 1986. Under his presidency Rakkiatgym largely focused on continued demobilisation of rebel groups as well as continuing the developmentalist policies that were implemented by the Wonjongkam cabinet. Despite high economic growth the bureaucratic, developmentalist state began to show signs of weakness by the end of Rakkiatgym's term with Rakkiatgym leaving office with high unemployment and debt.
5		Tawatwong Sonakul ธวัชวงศ์ โสณกุล (1916-2000)	14th February 1990	14th February 1994	4 years	1989-90	Khamphaeng Xayadeth Chakthip Khaopa	PRA
			A former member of the leftist opposition Sonakul focused on social reform and democratisation in his term. His centre-left policies got cautious support from the military particularly as Sonakul's government dealt with traditionalist opposition in a hardline manner. The economy however went into recession during his term and he failed to secure re-election in 1994.
6		Chakthip Khaopa จักรทิพย์ ข้าวปุ้น (1948-)	14th February 1994	14th February 2002	8 years	1993-94 1997-98	Thaklaew Atchariyaboonyong Khamphaeng Xayadeth Thanin Kittipromwong	CPP
			A former military bureaucrat Khaopa was elected on a broad coalition of both rural traditionalists and the military. Under Khaopa's term economic liberalisation was implemented which resulted in high economic growth. This growth led to the Khaopa government to become popular despite accusations of corruption and stoking ethnic violence due to xenophobic rhetoric from Khaopa. He was re-elected in 1998 and in 2002 his handpicked successor Thanin Kittipromwong became president.
		Thanin Kittipromwong ธานินทร์ กิตติพรหมวงศ์ (1950-)	14th February 2002	14th February 2006	4 years	2001-02	Chakthip Khaopa Ousavanh Vongvichit	CPP ↓ AP
7
			Having been the protégé of his predecessor Kittipromwong was initially seen as Khaopa's puppet, a fact reinforced when Kittipromwong appointed Khaopa as prime minister in a system most commented was a tandemocracy. However Kittipromwong had a split with Khaopa in the lead-up to the 2006 legislative elections forming the Aspiration Party. He was defeated by Khaopa in his bid for re-election in 2006 after being seen to lose military support.
(6)		Chakthip Khaopa จักรทิพย์ ข้าวปุ้น (1948-)	14th February 2006	14th February 2014	8 years	2005-06 2009-10	Prapat Kongkran Khamphaeng Xayadeth Kongsampong Khumpai	CPP
			Returning to power in 2006 Khaopa continued much of the same policies he had implemented in his previous term as president. He became increasingly criticised for corruption and authoritarianism particularly after the 2008 Thammacot riots. Khaopa only narrowly won the 2010 elections which many believed was rigged by the authorities to ensure his victory, leading to large-scale protests throughout 2010 and 2011. Khaopa's term nevertheless saw stable economic growth and amid low approval ratings he peacefully transferred power in 2014 after his handpicked candidate lost to the opposition.
8		Lursakdi Sonakul เลอศักดิ์ โสณกุล (1968-)	14th February 2014	Present	10 years, 2 months and 26 days	2013-14 2017-18	Kongsampong Khumpai Kathawut Vijitpongpun Phoumi Kittikhoun	PDP
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