Acts

Rules of Procedure

II. CONSTITUTING THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY

1. Convening the First Sitting of the National Assembly

Article 4

The first sitting of the National Assembly after a general election shall be convened by the Chairperson of the Assembly from the previous convocation on the date following the date of the submission of the report by the Republic Electoral Commission on the conducted elections.

Article 5

The first sitting of the National Assembly pending the election of the Chairperson of the National Assembly shall be chaired by the oldest Deputy (Acting Chairperson).
The Acting Chairperson or Chairperson of the National Assembly shall be assisted in his/her work by the youngest Deputy from each of the four electoral lists that polled the largest number of seats, and by the Secretary of the National Assembly.

Article 6

At the first sitting of the National Assembly the mandates of Deputies shall be verified, the Chairperson, the Vice-Chairpersons and the members of the working bodies of the National Assembly shall be elected and the Secretary of the National Assembly shall be appointed.

2. Verification of Deputies' Mandates

Article 7

Deputies shall acquire rights and duties in the National Assembly on the date of verification of their mandates.
The mandates of Deputies shall be verified on the basis of certificates attesting to election as Deputy and the report of the Republic Electoral Commission on the conducted elections within thirty (30) days from the date of the elections.
The National Assembly shall, at its constituting sitting, and at the proposal of the Chairperson, by a majority of votes of Deputies, set up a three-member Commission, comprised of one member from each of the three electoral lists that polled the largest number of seats in the National Assembly. The Commission shall be chaired by the oldest member.
Based on the report of the Republic Electoral Commission, the Commission shall establish whether data from certificates attesting to the election of each Deputy are identical to those contained in the report of the Republic Electoral Commission, and shall submit a report thereon to the National Assembly.

Article 8

Based on the report of the Commission defined in Article 7, Paragraph 4 of the present Rules of Procedure, the person chairing the constituting sitting of the National Assembly shall note that the Republic Electoral Commission has presented a report on the conducted elections and indicate which certificates attesting to the election of Deputies are in accordance with the report, whereby the mandates of these Deputies shall be verified.

3. Election of the Chairperson and Vice-Chairpersons; Appointment of the Secretary of the National Assembly

a) Election of the Chairperson of the National Assembly

Article 9

At least thirty (30) Deputies may nominate a candidate for the office of Chairperson of the National Assembly.
A Deputy may take part in the nomination of only one candidate.
The nomination shall include the name and surname of the candidate, the curriculum vitae and party affiliation of the candidate, as well as the first name and last name of the Rapporteur, an explanatory note, and the written consent of the candidate.

Article 10

The nomination of a candidate for the office of Chairperson of the National Assembly shall be submitted to the Acting Chairperson in writing.
The Acting Chairperson shall communicate to the Deputies all the received nominations of candidates for the office of Chairperson of the National Assembly.
On behalf of the proposer, the proposer's Rapporteur shall be entitled to provide an explanation of the nomination.
A debate shall be opened on the nomination of a candidate for the office of Chairperson of the National Assembly.
After the debate is over, the Chairperson shall prepare a list of candidates for the office of Chairperson of the National Assembly in the alphabetical order of their last names.

Article 11

Before proceeding to elect its Chairperson, the National Assembly shall decide whether to vote by secret or by open ballot.
A Deputy may vote for only one candidate.

Article 12

If the National Assembly should decide on open voting, the vote will be taken by a roll call of Deputies

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Article 13

Voting by secret ballot for the election of the Chairperson of the National Assembly shall take place according to provisions of the present Rules of Procedure on voting in the National Assembly by secret ballot.
The Acting Chairperson at the sitting of the National Assembly shall administer the vote by secret ballot, and shall be assisted by the youngest Deputy from each of the four voting lists that polled the largest number of seats, and by the Secretary of the National Assembly.
A candidate for the office of Chairperson of the National Assembly may not administer the vote nor assist in the administration process.

Article 14

The Deputy who polls the majority of votes cast by Deputies present shall be elected Chairperson of the National Assembly.
If two candidates have been nominated and neither should win the required majority of votes, the election procedure shall be repeated.
If more than two candidates have been nominated and none should win the required majority of votes, the vote shall be repeated on the two candidates who polled the largest number of votes, i.e. on several candidates who polled the largest equal number of votes.
If the Chairperson of the National Assembly should not be elected in the second round either, the election procedure shall be repeated.

b) Election of Vice-Chairpersons of the National Assembly

Article 15

The National Assembly shall have not more than six (6) Vice-Chairpersons.
Whenever the National Assembly is constituted, it shall determine the number of its Vice-Chairpersons by a special decision at the proposal of the Chairperson.

Article 16

At least thirty (30) Deputies may nominate one or several candidates for the office of Vice-Chairperson of the National Assembly, but only up to the number to be elected.
The nomination shall include the first name and last name of the candidate, his/her curricula vitae and party affiliation, as well as the name of the Rapporteur, an explanatory note, and the consent of the candidate in writing.

Article 17

The nomination of a candidate for the office of Vice-Chairperson of the National Assembly shall be submitted to the Chairperson of the National Assembly in writing.
The Chairperson of the National Assembly shall communicate to the Deputies all nominations received.
On behalf of the proposer, the Rapporteur of the proposer shall be entitled to give an explanation of the nomination.
A debate shall be held on the nomination of a candidate.
After the debate, the Chairperson of the National Assembly shall prepare a list of candidates for the office of Vice-Chairperson of the National Assembly in alphabetical order of their last names.

Article 18

Before proceeding to elect Vice-Chairpersons of the National Assembly, the National Assembly shall decide whether to vote by secret or by open ballot.
Deputies shall vote openly for each candidate individually by a show of hands or by roll call.
If the Deputies should vote openly by roll call, and the number of nominated candidates should be greater than the number to be elected, each Deputy shall vote for not more than the number of candidates to be elected.

Article 19

The Chairperson of the National Assembly shall administer the vote by secret ballot for the election of Vice-Chairpersons of the National Assembly, and shall be assisted in doing so by the youngest Deputy from each of the four electoral lists polling the largest number of seats, and by the Secretary of the National Assembly.
A candidate for the office of Vice-Chairperson of the National Assembly may not assist the Chairperson of the National Assembly in administering the vote.

Article 20

The vote by secret ballot for the office of Vice-Chairperson of the National Assembly shall take place under provisions of the present Rules of Procedure on voting by the National Assembly by secret ballot.
One may vote for not more than the number of candidates to be elected, from among the candidates whose names are indicated on the ballot paper.

Article 21

The candidate who wins the majority of votes cast by Deputies present shall be elected Vice-Chairperson of the National Assembly.
If the number of candidates nominated should equal the number to be elected, and the envisaged number of Vice-Chairpersons of the National Assembly should not be elected, the election procedure shall be repeated for the number of Vice-Chairpersons of the National Assembly who have not been elected.
If the number of candidates nominated should exceed the number to be elected and the envisaged number of Vice-Chairpersons of the National Assembly is not elected, the vote shall be repeated for the number of Vice-Chairpersons who have not been elected, from among the remaining candidates.
If not even in the second round the envisaged number of Vice-Chairpersons of the National Assembly should be elected, the election procedure shall be repeated for the number of Vice-Chairpersons of the National Assembly who have not been elected.

c) Appointment of the Secretary of the National Assembly

Article 22

Candidates for the office of Secretary of the National Assembly shall be nominated by the Chairperson of the National Assembly.
The nomination shall include the first name and last name of the candidate, his/her curriculum vitae, an explanatory note, and the consent of the candidate in writing.

4. Formation of Deputies' Groups

Article 23

Deputies' Groups in the National Assembly shall be formed, as a rule, not later than seven (7) days after the date of the election of the Chairperson of the National Assembly.
A Deputies' Group shall comprise Deputies of a political party, other political organisation, or group of citizens, that has at least five (5) Deputies.
A Deputies' Group of at least five (5) members may also be established by the association of Deputies belonging to several political parties, other political organisations, or groups of citizens that have less than five (5) Deputies each.
A Deputies' Group shall be established in the following manner: a list of members signed by each member of the Deputies' Group shall be submitted to the Chairperson of the National Assembly. The list shall indicate in particular the chairperson and vice-chairperson of the Deputies' Group.
A Deputy may be a member of only one Deputies' Group.

5. Formation of National Assembly Committees

Article 24

Deputies' Groups shall nominate members of each Committee in proportion to the number of Deputies they have in the National Assembly.
If a Deputies' Group should not nominate candidates for the election of Committee members, the Committee shall be formed as it has been elected based on the proposals of the Deputies' Groups that nominated their candidates. This composition, if more than a half of the Committee members have been elected as stipulated by the present Rules of Procedure, shall be considered as full composition when it comes to establishing the quorum for work and decision-making.
A Deputy may serve on several Committees.

Article 25

The proposed list for the election of Committee members shall be discussed and voted on as a single unit, by open voting.
The Committee shall be elected if the majority of the Deputies present vote for it.
If the Committee is not elected, the procedure shall be repeated.

Article 26

The first sitting of a Committee shall be convened by the Chairperson of the National Assembly.
Pending the election of the chairperson of the Committee, the first sitting shall be chaired by the oldest Committee member.
At its first sitting, the Committee shall elect its chairperson and vice-chairperson from among its members.