MPs to take oath, elect new Speaker on 28 May

The parliament has announced that the ceremony for MP-elects to take the oath of office and elect a new Speaker and Deputy Speaker for the 18th parliament has been scheduled, by the Parliament Speaker, for 28 May 2014.

The ongoing term of the 17th parliament, which began its five-year term on 28 May 2009, will end on 28 May 2014.

The Constitution states in Article 81 that a person elected as an MP shall assume membership in the parliament upon taking and subscribing, before the Chief Justice or his designate, the oath of office of members of the parliament.

It states in article 79 (a) that the parliament shall continue for five years from the date of its first sitting, and shall then stand dissolved; and first sitting of the newly elected parliament shall be held immediately after the dissolution of the previous parliament.

Article 82 (a) of the Constitution states that the parliament shall at the first sitting after the general election elect a Speaker and a Deputy Speaker from its members by secret ballot.

Article 208 (a) of the Parliament Procedures states that the arrangements for MPs to take the oath of office, as prescribed in Article 81 of the Constitution, shall be made by the Speaker of Parliament.