SECTION 17

(1) The President of the National Assembly shall be elected through a uninominal ballot by absolute majority of the valid votes cast. Failure to obtain an absolute majority in the first ballot, a second ballot shall be conducted for which a relative majority will suffice. (2) Two returning officers appointed by the Eldest Member shall count the votes and the Eldest Member shall announce the results. (3) The Eldest Member shall invite the President-elect to immediately take his seat as President of the National Assembly. (4) The Senior Vice-President shall be elected through a uninominal ballot by absolute majority of the valid votes cast. Failure to obtain an absolute majority in the first ballot, a second ballot shall be conducted for which a relative majority will suffice. (5) Two returning officers appointed by the President of the National Assembly shall count the votes and the President shall proclaim the results. 8 (6) The Vice-Presidents other than the Senior Vice-President, Questors and Secretaries shall be elected at the same time and at the same plenary sitting by secret ballot through a relative majority of valid votes cast on a common list presented by the political parties represented in the National Assembly. (7) The election referred to in Section 6 above shall seek to ensure that the Bureau reflects the political configuration of the National Assembly, except some political parties decline to be part of it. (8) Members of the Bureau shall be elected for 1 (one) year and shall be eligible for re-election. (9) However, members of the Permanent Bureau elected during the session as of right shall remain in office until the next election of the Permanent Bureau of the National Assembly at the opening of the first ordinary session of the next legislative year.