Tenure of office of members of Parliament.

(1) A member of Parliament shall vacate his or her seat in Parliament— (a) if he or she resigns his or her office in writing signed by him or her and addressed to the Speaker; (b) if such circumstances arise that if that person were not a member of Parliament would cause that person to be disqualified for election as a member of Parliament under article 80 of this Constitution; (c) subject to the provisions of this Constitution, upon dissolution of Parliament; (d) if that person is absent from fifteen sittings of Parliament without permission in writing of the Speaker during any period when Parliament is continuously meeting and is unable to offer satisfactory explanation to the relevant parliamentary committee for his or her absence; (e) if that person is found guilty by the appropriate tribunal of violation of the Leadership Code of Conduct and the punishment imposed is or includes the vacation of the office of a member of Parliament; (f) if recalled by the electorate in his or her constituency in accordance with this Constitution; (g) if that person leaves the political party for which he or she stood as a candidate for election to Parliament to join another party or to remain in Parliament as an independent member; (h) if, having been elected to Parliament as an independent candidate, that person joins a political party; (i) if that person is appointed a public officer. (2) Notwithstanding clause (1)(g) and (h) of this article, membership of a coalition government of which his or her original political party forms part shall not affect the status of any member of Parliament. (3) The provisions of clauses (1)(g) and (h) and (2) of this article shall only apply during any period when the multiparty system of government is in operation.