It is elected by the central committee, which in turn elected and answerable to the party congress. In reality, however, the politbureau is the seat of supreme power.delegates to both the party congress and the central committeereflect regional and ethnic divisions within the country . The fifth party Congress in March, 1991 abolished the party secretariat, leaving day to day party affairsin the hands of the chairman. The mass organisations of the party play a most important role in the national Construction. The important of them are Lao People's revolutionary Youth, lao trade Unions, union of Lao's womenetc.Since Budhists are a predominating factor in Laos, lao union for budhists play a limited role to exert political influrence.
Political change has occurred since 1975through both internal and external presures with all limitationsand improved relations with Thailand. Following Pathet Laoseizure of power the small industrial sectors were nationalised, the market for goods and services closely regulated and a programm of agricultural collectivisationinitiated. Suffering peasants oppositions and plummeting productionforced suspension of collectivisation in 1979 in anticipationof sweeping economic reforms. Five sectors of the economy were defined, including a capitalist component-tacit recognition that Laos could not hope to implement, socialism at its current low level of economic development. Further relaxation of orthodox socialist policies followed as the government launched the country's first five year plan (in jan. !981).
