46

Article 46 Any candidate to the functions of President of the Republic must be of Malagasy nationality, enjoy their civil and political rights, be at least thirty-five years old at the date of the closure of the presentation of the candidatures, and reside on the territory of the Republic of Madagascar for at least six months before the day of the deadline established for the presentation of the candidatures. The President of the Republic in office who stands as a candidate to the Presidential elections resigns from his position sixty days before the date of the Presidential ballot. In this case, the President of the Senate exercises the current Presidential attributions until the investiture of the new President. In the case that the President of the Senate stands as a candidate himself, the functions of Head of the State are exercised by the Government, jointly. To use for ends of electoral propaganda, the means or the prerogatives that they have at their disposal because of their functions, is prohibited to all notable persons exercising a public mandate or accomplishing functions within the Institutions and who are candidates to the presidential election. The violation, should that be declared by the High Constitutional Court, constitutes a cause for invalidation of the candidature.