Law
No. 96-06 of 18 January 1996
to
amend the Constitution
of
2 June 1972
The
National Assembly has deliberated and adopted;
The
President of the Republic hereby enacts the law set out below:
CONSTITUTION
of
the Republic of Cameroon
PREAMBLE
We,
the people of Cameroon,
Proud
of our linguistic and cultural diversity, an enriching feature
of our national identity, but profoundly aware of
the imperative need to further consolidate our unity, solemnly
declare that we constitute one and the same Nation, bound by the
same destiny, and assert our firm determination to build the Cameroonian
Fatherland on the basis of the ideals of fraternity, justice and
progress;
Jealous
of our hard-won independence and resolved to preserve same;
convinced that the salvation of
Africa lies in forging ever-growing bonds of
solidarity among African Peoples, affirm our desire
to contribute to the advent of a united and free Africa, while
maintaining peaceful and brotherly relations
with the other nations of the
World, in accordance with the principles enshrined in the
Charter of the United Nations;
Resolved
to harness our natural resources in order to ensure the well-being
of every citizen without discrimination,
by raising living standards, proclaim our right to development
as well as our determination to devote all our efforts to that
end and declare our readiness to co-operate
with all States desirous of participating
in this national endeavour with
due respect for our sovereignty and the independence of
the Cameroonian State.
We,
the people of Cameroon,
Declare
that the human person, without distinction as to race, religion,
sex or belief, possesses inalienable and sacred
rights;
Affirm
our attachment to the fundamental freedoms enshrined in the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights, the Charter of
the United Nations and The African
Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights,
and all duly ratified international conventions relating thereto,
in particular, to the following principles:
- all persons shall have equal rights and obligations. The State
shall provide all its citizens with the conditions necessary
for their development;
- the State shall ensure the protection of minorities and shall
preserve the rights of indigenous populations in accordance
with the law;
- freedom and security shall be
guaranteed to each individual, subject
to respect for the rights of others and
the higher interests of the State;
- every person shall have the right to
settle in any place and to
move about freely, subject to the statutory provisions concerning
public law and order, security and tranquillity;
- the home is inviolate. No search may be conducted except by
virtue of the law;
- the privacy of all correspondence is inviolate. No
interference may be allowed except by virtue of decisions
emanating from the Judicial Power;
- no person may be compelled to do what the law does not prescribe;
- no person may be prosecuted, arrested or
detained except in the cases and according to the manner determined
by law;
- the law may not have retrospective effect.No person may be judged
and punished, except by virtue of a law enacted and published
before the offence committed;
- The law shall ensure the right of every person to a fair hearing
before the courts;
- every accused person is presumed innocent until found guilty
during a hearing conducted in strict compliance with
the rights of defence;
- every person has a right to
life, to physical and moral integrity and to humane treatment
in all circumstances. Under no circumstances shall any person
be subjected to torture, to cruel, inhumane or degrading treatment;
- no person shall be harassed on
grounds of his origin, religious, philosophical
or political opinions or beliefs, subject to respect for public
policy;
- the State shall be secular. The neutrality and independence
of the State in respect of all religions shall be guaranteed;
- freedom of religion and worship shall be guaranteed;
- the freedom of communication, of expression, of the press, of
assembly, of association, and of trade unionism,
as well as the right to strike shall be guaranteed under
the conditions fixed by law;
- the Nation shall protect and promote the family
which is the natural foundation
of human society. It shall protect
women,the young, the elderly and the disabled;
- the State shall guarantee the
child's right to education. Primary education
shall be compulsory. The organization and supervision
of education at all levels shall be the bounden duty of the State;
- ownership shall mean the right guaranteed to every person by
law to use, enjoy and dispose of property.No person shall be deprived
thereof, save for public purposes and subject to the payment of
compensation under conditions determined by law;
- the right of ownership may not be exercised in violation of
the public interest or in such a way as
to be prejudicial to the security, freedom,
existence or property of other persons;
- every person shall have a right to a healthy environment. The
protection of the environment shall be
the duly of every citizen. The State shall ensure
the protection and improvement of the environment;
- every person shall have the right and the obligation to work;
- every person shall share in the burden of public expenditure
according to his financial resources;
- all citizens shall contribute to the defence of the Fatherland:
- the State shall guarantee all citizens of either sex the rights
and freedoms set forth in the Preamble of the Constitution.
Part
I
State
and Sovereignty
Article
1
(1)
The United Republic of Cameroon
shall, with effect from the date of entry into force of
this law, be known as Republic of Cameroon (Law No 84-1 of 4 February
1984).
(2)
The Republic of Cameroon shall be
a decentralized unitary State. It shall be one and indivisible,
secular, democratic and dedicated to social service.
It
shall recognize and protect traditional values that conform to
democratic principles, human rights and the
law.
It
shall ensure the equality of all citizens before the law.
(3)
The official languages of the Republic of Cameroon shall be English
and French, both languages having the same status. The State
shall guarantee the promotion of bilingualism
throughout the country. It shall endeavour to protect and promote
national languages.
(4)
Its motto shall be " Peace-Work-Fatherland ".
(5)
Its flag shall be three equal vertical stripes of green, red and
yellow charged with one gold star in the centre of the red
stripe.
(6)
Its national anthem shall be " O Cameroon, Cradle of our
Forefathers ".
(7)
The seal of the Republic of Cameroon shall be a circular medallion
in bas-relief, 46 millimetres in diameter,
bearing on the obverse and in the centre the head of girl in profile
turned to the dexter towards a coffee branch with two leaves and
flanked on the sinister by five cocoa pods, with the French
words "République du Cameroun" inscribed
below the upper edge and the national
motto " Paix- Travail-Patrie " inscribed above the lower
edge; on the reverse and in the centre
the coat of arms of the Republic of Cameroon,with the English
words "Republic of Cameroon" inscribed beneath the upper
edge and the national motto "Peace-Work-Fatherland
" inscribed above the lower edge.
The
coat of arms of the Republic of Cameroon shall be an escutcheon
surmounted chief by the legend "Republic of Cameroon"
and supported by two crossed fasces with the motto " Peace-Work-Fatherland
" base.
The
escutcheon shall be composed of a star on a field
vent and triangle gules, charged
with the geographical outline of Cameroon
azure, and surcharged with the sword and scales of justice sable.
(8)
The Capital of the Republic of Cameroon shall be Yaounde.
Article
2
(01)
National sovereignty shall be vested in the people of Cameroon
who shall exercise same either through the President of
the Republic and Members of Parliament or by way of referendum.
No section of the people or any individual shall arrogate to
itself or to himself the exercise thereof.
(02)
The authorities responsible for the management of the State shall
derive their powers from the people through election by direct
or indirect universal suffrage, unless otherwise provided for
in this Constitution.
(03)
The vote shall be equal and secret, and every citizen aged twenty
years and above shall be entitled to vote.
Article
3
Political
parties and groups shall help the electorate in the making of
voting decisions. They shall be bound
to respect
the
principles of democracy, national sovereignty and unity. They
shall be formed and shall exercise their activities in accordance
with the law.
Article
4
State
power shall be exercised by:
-
The President of the Republic;
-
Parliament.
PART
II
Executive
Power
CHAPTER
I
The
President of the Republic
Article
5
(1)
The President of the Republic shall be the Head of State.
(2)
Elected by the whole Nation, he shall be the symbol of national
unity.
He
shall define the policy of the nation.
He
shall ensure respect for the Constitution.
He
shall, through his arbitration, ensure the proper functioning
of public authorities
He
shall be the guarantor of the independence
of the Nation and of its territorial integrity, of the permanency
and continuity of the State and of the respect of international
treaties and agreements.
Article
6
The
President of the Republic shall be elected by a majority of the
votes cast through direct, equal and secret universal suffrage.
(2)
The President of the Republic shall be elected for a term of office
of 7 (seven) years. He shall be eligible for re-election once.
(3)
The election shall be held not less than 20 (twenty) days and
not more than 50 (fifty) days before the expiry of the term of
the President of the Republic in office.
(4)
Where the office of President of the Republic becomes vacant as
a result of death, resignation or permanent incapacity duly
ascertained by the Constitutional Council, the polls for
the election of the new President of the Republic
must be held not less than 20 (twenty) days and not more than
40 (forty) days after the office becomes vacant.
(a)
The President of the Senate shall as of right act as interim President
of the Republic until the new
President of the Republic is elected. Where the President
of the Senate is unable to exercise these powers, the shall
be exercised by his Vice, following the order
of precedence.
(b)
The interim President of the Republic – the President of the senate
or his Vice - may neither amend the Constitution nor the composition
of the Government. He may not organize a referendum or run for
the office of President of the Republic.
(5)
Candidates for the office of President of the Republic must be
Cameroonian by birth, enjoy their civic and political rights and
must have attained the age of 35 (thirty-five) by the date of
the election.
(6)
the conditions for electing the President of the Republic
shall be laid down by law.
Article
7.
(1)
The president-elect shall assume office once he has been sworn
in.
(2)
He shall take the oath of
office before the Cameroonian people,
in the presence of the members of parliament, the
Constitutional Council and the Supreme Court meeting in solemn
session.
He
shall be sworn in by the President of the National Assembly.
(3)
The wording of the oath and the procedure for
implementing the provisions of paragraphs (1) and above shall
be laid down by law.
(4)
The office of President of the Republic shall be incompatible
with any other elective public office or professional activity.
Article
8.
(1)
The President of the Republic shall represent the State in all
acts of public life.
(2)
He shall be Head of the Armed Forces.
(3)
He shall ensure the internal and external security of the Republic.
{4)
He shall accredit ambassadors and envoys extraordinary to foreign
powers. The ambassadors and envoys extraordinary of
foreign powers shall be accredited to him.
(5)
The President of the Republic shall enact laws as provided for
in Article 31 below.
(6)
The President of the Republic shall refer matters to
the Constitutional Council under the
conditions laid down by the Constitution.
(7)
He shall exercise the right of clemency after consultation with
the Higher Judicial Council.
(8)
He shall exercise statutory authority.
(9)
He shall set up and organize the administrative services of the
State.
(10)
He shall appoint to civil and military posts of the State.
(11)
He shall confer the decorations and honorary distinctions of the
Republic.
(12)
The President of the Republic may, if necessary and after consultation
with the Government, the Bureaux of the National Assembly
and the Senate, dissolve the National
Assembly. The election of a new Assembly shall take place in accordance
with the provisions of Article 15 (4)
Article
9
(1)
The President of the Republic may, where circumstances so warrant,
declare by decree a state of emergency which shall confer upon
him such special powers as may be provided for by law.
(2)
In the event of a serious threat to the nation's territorial integrity
or to its existence, its independence or institutions,
the President of the Republic may declare a state of siege by
decree and take any measures as he may deem
necessary.
He
shall inform the Nation of his decision by message.
Article
10
(1)
The President of the Republic shall appoint the Prime Minister
and, on the proposal of the latter, the other
members of Government.
He
shall define their duties.
He
shall terminate their appointment.
He
shall preside over the Council of Ministers.
(2)
The President of the Republic may delegate some of his powers
to the Prime Minister, other members of Government and any other
senior administrative officials of the State, within the framework
of their respective duties.
(3)
Where the President of the Republic is temporarily unable to perform
his duties, he shall delegate the Prime Minister and, should the
latter also be unavailable, any other member of Government to
discharge his duties within the framework
of an express delegation of some of his powers.
CHAPTER
II
The
Government
Article
11
The
Government shall implement the policy of the nation as defined
by the President of the Republic.
It
shall be responsible to the National Assembly under the conditions
and procedures provided for in Article 34 below.
Article
12.
(1)
The Prime Minister shall be the Head of Government and shall direct
its action.
(2)
He shall be responsible for the enforcement
of the laws.
(3)
He shall exercise statutory authority and appoint to civil posts,
subject to the prerogatives of the President of the Republic
in such areas.
(4)
He shall direct all the government services required for the accomplishment
of his duties.
(5)
He may delegate some of his powers to members of Government and
to senior State officials.
Article
13
The
office of member of Government and any office ranking as such
shall be incompatible with that of member of Parliament,
Chairman of the Executive or Assembly of a local or regional authority,
leader of a national professional association, or
with any other employment or professional activity.
PART
III
Legislative
Power
Article
14
(1)
Legislative power shall be exercised by the Parliament which shall
comprise 2 (two) Houses :
(a)
The National Assembly;
(b)
The Senate.
(2)
Parliament shall legislate and control Government action.
(3)
Both Houses 01 Parliament shall meet on the same dates:
(a)
in ordinary session during the months 01 June, November and March
each year, when convened by the Bureaux
01 the National Assembly and the Senate after consultation
with the President 01 the Republic;
(b)
in extraordinary session, at the request 01 the President of the
Republic or of one-third of the members of both Houses.
However,
the two Houses shall be convened simultaneously only if the business
of the day concerns both of them.
(4)
The two Houses of Parliament shall meet in congress at the request
of the President of the Republic in arder to :
-
be addressed by or receive a message from the President of the
Republic ;
-
receive the oath of members of the Constitutional Council ;
-
take a decision on a draft or proposed constitutional amendment.
When
Parliament meets in congress, the Bureau the National Assembly
shall preside over the proceedings.
(5)
No person, shall be member of both the National Assembly and the
Senate.
(6)
The conditions for the election of members of the National
Assembly and of the Senate, as
well as the immunities, ineligibilities, incompatibilities,
allowances and privileges of the members of Parliament shall be
determined by law.
CHAPTER
I
The
National Assembly
Article
15.
(1)
The National Assembly shall comprise 180 (one hundred and
eighty) members elected by direct and
secret universal suffrage for a five-year term of office.
The
number of members of the National Assembly may be modified by
law.
(2)
Each member of the National Assembly shall represent the entire
Nation.
(3)
Any imposed mandate shall be null and void.
(4)
In case of serious crisis, the President of the Republic may,
after consultation with the President
of the Constitutional Council and Bureaux of the National
Assembly to decide, by a law, to extend or abridge its term of
office. In this case, the election of
a new Assembly shall take place not less than 40 (forty) days
and not more than 60 (sixty) days
following the expiry of the extension or abridgement period.
Article
16.
(1)
At the beginning of each legislative year, the National Assembly
shall meet as of right in ordinary
session under the conditions laid down by law.
(2)
Each year, the National Assembly shall hold 3 (three) ordinary
sessions, each lasting not more than 30 (thirty) days.
(a)
At the opening of its first ordinary session, the National Assembly
shall elect its President and Bureau members.
(b)
The National Assembly shall, during one of its sessions, adopt
the State budget. Where such budget is not adopted
before the end of the current financial year, the President of
the Republic shall be empowered to
extend the previous budget by one-twelfth until a
new one is passed.
(3)
The National Assembly shall meet in extraordinary session for
not more than 15 (fifteen) days on a specific agenda
and at the request of the President of the
Republic or of one-third of its members. The
extraordinary
session shall wind up as soon as
the agenda for which it was convened is exhausted.
Article
17
(1)
Sittings of the National Assembly shall be public. Exceptionally,
the National Assembly may hold sittings in camera at
the request of the President of the Republic or of an absolute
majority of its members.
(2)
The National Assembly shall, in a law, draw up its standing orders.
Article
18
(1)
The agenda of the National Assembly shall be drawn up by the Chairmen's
conference.
(2)
The Chairmen's conference shall be composed of Presidents of
Parliamentary Groups, Chairmen of Committees
and members of the Bureau of the National Assembly. A member of
Government shall participate in the conference meeting.
(3)
Only bills falling within its area of jurisdiction by virtue of
Article 26 below may be included in the agenda of the
National Assembly.
(a)
Ali private members' bills and amendments which, if passed, would
result in the reduction of public funds
or in an increase of public charges without a corresponding
reduction in other expenditure or the grant of equivalent new
supply of funds, shall be inadmissible.
(b)
Any doubt or dispute on the admissibility of a bill shall be referred
by the President of the Republic, the President
of the National Assembly or by one-third of the members
of the National Assembly to the Constitutional Council for a ruling.
(4)
The agenda shall give priority, and in the order decided by the
Government, to the consideration of the government
bills and private members' bills accepted by it. The other private
members' bills admitted by the Chairmen's Conference shall be
considered subsequently.
Where
a private members' bill has not been considered during two successive
ordinary sessions, it shall automatically
be considered at the very next ordinary session.
(5)
Any item on the agenda shall, at the request of the Government,
be treated as a matter of urgency.
Article
19.
(1)
Laws shall be passed by a simple majority of the members of the
National Assembly.
(2)
Bills submitted to the National Assembly for
reconsideration by the Senate shall
either be passed or rejected in
accordance with Article 30 below.
(3)
The President of the Republic may, before enacting any law, ask
for a second reading. In such case, bills shall be passed
by an absolute majority of the members of the National Assembly.
CHAPTER
II
The
Senate
Article
20.
(1)
The Senate shall represent the regional and local authorities.Each
region shall be represented in the Senate by
10 (ten) Senators of whom 7 (seven) shall be elected by indirect
universal suffrage on a regional basis and 3 (three) appointed
by the President of the Republic.
(3)
Candidates for lhe post of Senator and personalities appointed
to lhe post of Senator by lhe President of lhe Republic must have
attained lhe age of 40 (forty) by lhe date of lhe election or
appointment.
(4)
Senators shall serve a term of 5 (five) years.
Article
21
(1)
At the beginning of each legislative year, lhe Senate
shall meet as of right in ordinary session
under lhe conditions laid down by law.
(2)
Each year, lhe Senate shall hold 3 (three) ordinary sessions,
each lasting not more than 30 (thirty) days.
At
lhe opening of its first ordinary session, lhe Senate shall elect
its President and Bureau members.
(3)
The Senate shall meet in extraordinary session for not more than
15 (fifteen) days on a specific agenda and at lhe request of lhe
President of lhe Republic or of one-third of its members.
The
extraordinary session shall wind up as soon as lhe agenda for
which it was convened is exhausted.
Article
22
(1)
Sittings of the Senate shall be public. Exceptionally, the Senate
may hold sittings in camera at the request of the President
of the Republic or of an absolute majority of its members.
(2)
The Senate shall, in a law, draw up its standing orders.
Article
23
(1)
The agenda of the Senate shall be drawn up by the Chairmen's conference.
(2)
The Chairmen's conference shall be composed
of Presidents of Parliamentary Groups,
Chairmen of Committees and members of the Bureau
of the Senate. A member of Government shall participate in the
conference meeting.
(3)
Only bills falling within its area of jurisdiction by virtue of
Article 26 below may be included in the agenda of the Senate.
(a)
Ali private members' bills and amendments which, if passed, would
result in the reduction of public funds or in an increase of public
charges without a corresponding reduction in other expenditure
or the grant of equivalent new supply of funds, shall
be inadmissible.
(b)
Any doubt or dispute on lhe admissibility of a bill shall be referred
by lhe President of the Republic, the President of
the Senate or one-third of lhe Senators to the Constitutional
Council for a ruling.
(4)
The agenda shall give priority, and in lhe arder decided by the
Government, to lhe consideration of l he government
bills and private members' bílis accepted by it. The other
private members' bílis admitted by the Chairmen's Conference shall
be considered subsequently.
Where
a private members' bill has not been considered during
two successive ordinary sessions, it
shall automatically be considered at lhe very next
ordinary session.
(5)
Any item on lhe agenda shall, at lhe request of the Government,
be treated as a matter of urgency.
Article
24
(1)
Laws shall be passed by a simple majority of lhe Senators.
(2)
The Senate may amend or reject ali or part of a bill submitted
to it for consideration, in accordance with Article 30 below.
(3)
The President of the Republic may, before enacting a law, ask
for a second reading. In such case, bills shall be passed
by an absolute majority of the Senators.
PART
IV
Relations
Between the Executive and Legis/ative Powers
Article
25.
Bills
may be tabled either by the President of the Republic or by members
of parliament.
Article
26.
(1)
Bills shall be passed by Parliament.
(2)
The following shall be reserved to the Legislative Power:
(a)
The fundamental rights, guarantees ad obligations of the citizen:
1.
safeguarding individual freedom and security;
2.
the rules governing public freedoms;
3.
labour legislation, trade union legislation, rules governing social
security and insurance;
4.
the duties and obligations of the citizen in respect of national
defence requirements.
(b)
The status of persons and property ownérship
system:
1.
nationality, status of persons, matrimonial system, succession
and gifts;
2.
rules governing civil and commercial obligations;
3.
movable and immovable property ownership system.
(c)
The political, administrative and judicial organization:
1.
rules governing election of the President of the Republic and
elections into the National Assembly, the Senate, Regional and
Local Bodies and referendum operations;
2.
rules governing associations and political parties;
3.
the organization, functioning, powers and resources of regional
and local authorities;
4.
general rules governing the organization of national defence;
5.
judicial organization and the creation of various types of courts;
6.
the definition of felonies and misdemeanours and the institution
of penalties of ali kinds, criminal procedure, civil procedure,
measures of execution, amnesty.
(d)
The following financial and patrimonial matters:
1.
rules governing the issue of currency;
2.
the budget;
3.
the creation of duties and the determination of their basis of
assessment, rates and methods of collection;
4.
land tenure, State lands and mining;
5.
natural resources.
(e)
Programming the objectives of economic and social action.
(f)
The system of education.
Article
27
Matters
not reserved to the legislative power shall come under the jurisdiction
of the authority empowered to issue rules
and regulations.
Article
28
(1)
However, with regard to lhe subjects listed in Article 26 (2)
above, Parliament may empower lhe President of the Republic to
legislate by way of ordi- ,nance for a limited period and for
given purposes
(2)
Such ordinances shall enter into force on lhe date of their publication.They
shall be tabled before lhe bureaux of lhe National Assembly and
lhe Senate for purposes of ratification within lhe time-limit
laid down by the enabling l aw. They shall
be of a statutory nature as long as they have not
been ratified.
(3)
They shall remain in force as long as Parliament has not refused
to ratify them.
Article
29
(1)
Government bills and private members' bills shall be tabled at
lhe same time before the bureaux of lhe National
Assembly and lhe Senate. They shall be studied by lhe appropriate
committees prior to their being debated in plenary session.
(2)
The bill debated in plenary session shall be that tabled by lhe
President of the Republic. The private members' bill debated in
plenary session shall be lhe next tabled by its author or authors.
(3)
Such bills may be amended in the course of the Idebate.
Article
30
(1)
A bill passed by the National Assembly shall be immediately forwarded
to the President of the Senate by the President
of the National Assembly.
(2)
The President of the Senate shall, upon receiving the bill forwarded
by the President of National Assembly, submit it to
the Senate for consideration. (3) Within 10 (ten) days, with effect
from the date of receipt of the bill or 5(five) days for a bill
declared urgent by the Government, the Senate may:
(a)
Pass the bill.
In
which case, the President of the Senate shall return the adopted
bill to the President of the National Assembly
who shall forward same within 48 (fortyeight) hours
to the President of the Republic for enactment.
(b)
Amend the bill.
Such
amendment must be approved by a simple majority of the Senators.
In
which case, the amended bill shall
be returned to the National Assembly
by the President of
the Senate for reconsideration. The amendment
proposed by the Senate shall be passed or rejected by a simple
majority of the members of the National Assembly.
The
final bill adopted shall be forwarded
by the President of the National
Assembly to the President of the Republic for enactment.
(c)
Reject ali or part of the bill.
Such
rejection must be approved by an absolute majority of the senators.
In
which case, the rejected bill with reasons there for shall be
returned to the National Assembly by the President
of the Senate for reconsideration.
1.
The National Assembly shall, after deliberations, pass the bill
by absolute majority of its members. The final bill adopted
by the National Assembly shall be forwarded to the President of
the Republic for enactment.
2.
Where an absolute majority cannot be reached, the President of
the Republic may convene a meeting of
a joint commission comprising equal representation of both houses
to propose a common formulation of
lhe provisions rejected by lhe Senate.
The
text prepared by lhe joint commission shall be submitted to both
Houses by lhe President of lhe Republic
for approval.
No
amendment shall be admissible, except with lhe approval of lhe
President of lhe Republic.
Where
the joint commission fails to agree on a common text, or where
such text is not adopted by both Houses, lhe President of lhe
Republic may:
-
either request lhe National Assembly to take a final decision
thereon; or
-
declare lhe government bill or private members' bill null and
void.
Alticle
31
(1)
The President of lhe Republic shall enact laws passed by Parliament
within 15 (fifteen) days of their being forwarded to him
unless he requests a second reading or refers lhe matter to lhe
Constitutional Council.
(2)
Upon the expiry of this deadline, and after establishing the failure
of the President of the Republic to act,the President of the National
Assembly may himself enact the law.
(3)
Laws shall be published in the Official Gazette of the Republic
in English and French.
Article
32
The
President of Republic may, at his request, address the National
Assembly, the Senate or the two
Houses meeting in congresso He may also send messages
to them; but no such address or message may be debated in his
presence.
Article
33
The
Prime Minister and the other members. Of Government
shall have access to Parliament
and may participate in its deliberations.
Article
34
(1)
At the session during which the finance bill is considered, the
Prime Minister shall present to the National
Assembly the Government's economic,financial, social and
cultural programme.
(2)
The Prime Minister may, after the deliberations of the Council
of Ministers, commit the responsibility
of the Government before the National
Assembly on a programme ar, as the case may be, on a general policy
statement.
Voting
shall take place not less than 48 (forty-eight) hours after
the vote of no confidence has been requested.