Circumstances

The National Assembly shall call the Government's actions into question by a vote of no confidence (Article 78 of the Constitution).

Modalites

Such a motion is only acceptable if it is signed by at least one tenth of parliamentarians. At least 48 hours must have elapsed after it has been tabled before a vote can be taken. Only votes in favour of the motion are counted. A motion requires at least a two-thirds majority of the members of the National Assembly to be adopted.

Consequences

Once the parliament has adopted a motion of no confidence the Prime Minister must present the Cabinet's resignation to the President. If the motion is rejected its signatories may not table a new motion of no confidence in the same session. Between 1990 and 2000 two motions of no confidence were tabled by opposition parties. Neither obtained a two-thirds majority of the members of the National Assembly.