| Parliament name (generic / translated) |
Parlament / Parliament |
| Structure of parliament |
Unicameral |
| APPOINTMENT AND TERM OF OFFICE |
| Title |
President of Parliament |
| Term |
- duration: 5 years (term of legislature); elected on 23/4/1998
- reasons for interruption of the term: resignation, recall on a proposal by the parliamentary group which proposed him/her as a candidate, vote on the responsibility of the President, death, dissolution
|
| Appointment |
- elected by all Members of Parliament
- the election is held once Parliament has been legally constituted
- after two-thirds of the mandates have been validated
|
| Eligibility |
- any Member of Parliament may be a candidate |
| Voting system |
- formal vote by secret ballot
- a simple majority is required. Only the two candidates who have obtained the most votes may stand in the second round. In case of a tie, a third round is held in which new candidatures are admitted.
|
| Procedures / results |
- the senior Member presides over Parliament during the voting
- the Chairperson of the Special Committee supervises the voting
- the Chairperson of the Special Committee announces the results without delay
- the results may be challenged
|
| STATUS |
| Status |
- acts as interim Head of State during the latter's absence
- represents Parliament in international bodies
- in the absence of the President, one of the two Vice-Presidents can assume his/her role and functions
|
| Board |
- the Standing Board is regulated by the Rules of Procedure
- consists of 9 members: the President, the two Vice-President; the other members are elected taking into account the proportional representation of the parliamentary groups
- term of office lasts five years
- constitutes a genuine collegial presidency
|
| Material facilities |
- allowance
+ expense allowance
- official car
- secretariat
- bodyguards
|
| FUNCTIONS |
| Organization of parliamentary business |
- convenes sessions
- establishes and modifies the agenda
- organizes the debates and sets speaking time
- refers texts to a committee for study
- proposes the setting-up of committees of enquiry
|
| Chairing of public sittings |
- can open, adjourn and close sittings
- ensures respect for provisions of the Constitution and Standing Orders
- takes disciplinary measures in the event of disturbance, and lifts such measures
- establishes the list of speakers, gives and withdraws permission to speak
- establishes the order in which amendments are taken up and selects which amendments are to be debated
- calls for a vote, decides how it is to be carried out, verifies the voting procedure and cancels a vote in the event of irregularities
- checks the quorum
- authenticates the texts adopted and the records of debates
|
| Special powers |
plays an essential role in:
- establishing the budget
- recruiting, assigning and promoting staff
- organizing the services of Parliament
- is responsible for relations with foreign Parliaments
- is responsible for safety, and in this capacity, can call the police in the event of disturbance in Parliament
|
| Speaking and voting rights, other functions |
- takes the floor in legislative debates
- provides guidelines for the interpretation or completion of the text under discussion
- takes part in voting
- proposes bills or amendments
- intervenes in the parliamentary oversight procedure
- must be consulted in certain circumstances (dissolution, etc.)
|
