Assumption of office

Assumption of office (1) The President-elect shall assume office after being sworn in by the Chief Justice or, in the absence of the Chief Justice, the Deputy Chief Justice. (2) The President-elect shall be sworn into office on the Tuesday following— (a) the seventh day after the date of the declaration of the presidential election results, if no petition has been filed in accordance with Article 103; or (b) the seventh day after the date on which the Constitutional Court declares the election to be valid. (3) Subject to clause (4), where the President-elect dies, resigns or is for a reason unable to assume office, the Vice-President-elect shall be sworn into, and assume the office of President, in accordance with clause (1). (4) Subject to clause (5), where the inability of the President-elect to assume office is as a result of an event or circumstance beyond the control of the President-elect, the Vice-President-elect shall not be sworn into office. (5) A political party whose presidential candidate was declared President-elect or another person shall, within three days from the date on which the President-elect should have been sworn into office, petition the Constitutional Court to determine whether or not the inability of the President-elect to assume office is permanent. (6) Where the Constitutional Court decides that the inability of the President-elect to assume office is permanent, the Vice-President-elect shall be sworn into office as President and assume office in accordance with clause (1). (7) The Vice-President-elect who assumes office as President, in accordance with clause (3) or (6), shall appoint a person as Vice-President, subject to approval by the National Assembly, signified by a vote of not less than two-thirds of the Members of Parliament. (8) Where the Vice-President elect who is supposed to assume the office of President as specified in clause (3) or (6) dies, resigns or is for another reason unable to assume the office of President— (a) the Speaker shall perform the executive functions; and (b) a presidential election shall be held within sixty days of the occurrence of the vacancy. (9) The Speaker shall, perform the executive functions assumed in accordance with clause (8) except the power to make an appointment or dissolve the National Assembly. (10) The Speaker shall, when the President-elect assumes office, complete the procedural and administrative handing over process within thirty days.