SPAIN Pursuant to the provisions of Royal Decree 3073 of December 29, 1978, 1/ general elections of Deputies and Senators were convoked in Spain in a democratic manner, for the first time after the death of General Francisco Franco. The election took place on March 1, 1979. Article 66 of the Constitution of Spain of December 27, 1978 2/ provides that the General Cortes (1.e. Parliament) is formed by the Congress of Deputies and by the Senate. Article 68.4 of the Constitution provides that the Congress is elected for 4 years and that the mandate to the deputies terminates 4 after their election or the day the Congress of Deputies is dissolved. years Article 69.6 provides that the Senate is elected for 4 years and the Senator's mandate terminates 4 years after their election or the day the Senate is dissolved. Article 68.6 of the Constitution requires that elections take place between 30 and 60 days after the termination of the mandate. The elected Congress must be convoked within the 20 days following the date of the holding of the elections. Prepared by Armando E. González Assistant to the Chief Hispanic Law Division, Law Library 1/ Boletín Oficial, Jan. 1, 1979. 2/ B. O., Dec. 29. 1978 SWITZERLAND There is no statutory provision concerning the time interval between the date of election and the convening of the Federal Assembly (the National Council and the Council of State). The same applies to the election of the Bundeskanzler (Chancellor of the Confederation). By tradition, however, elections are always held in October, and the newly elected Federal Assembly convenes some time in January. Prepared by Dr. Miklos K. Radvanyi Senior Legal Specialist European Law Division Law Library, Library of Congress THAILAND Thailand has at present a parliamentary form of government with a House of Representatives whose members are elected by popular vote and a Senate whose members are appointed by the King of Thailand. According to Article 99 of the current Thai Constitution, the Constitution of 1978, the term of the House of Representatives is four years from the date of the general elections. 1/ Article 100 provides that upon the expiration of the term of the House of Representatives, the King is to issue a Royal Decree calling for a general election, in which the election day must be fixed within 60 days of the date on which the term expires. Election day is to be the same day all over Thailand. 2/ Article 101 states that the King has the prerogative to dissolve the House of Representatives for a new election of members thereof. The dissolution of the House of Representatives is to be made in the form of a Royal Decree in which the election day for the general elections must be fixed within 90 days, with election day being the same throughout Thailand. 3/ 1/ Albert P. Blaustein and Gisbert H. Flanz, ed., XV Constitutions of the Countries of the World: Thailand 20 (Dobbs Ferry, N.Y., Oceana Press, 1979). 2/ Id. 3/ Id. Membership in the House of Representatives commences on election day, according to Article 102 of the Constitution. 4/ Therefore, the time interval between general elections and the subsequent taking of office of the elected members is zero. Under Article 146 of the Constitution, the Prime Minister is ap pointed by the King, and not elected. 5/ Prepared by Mya Saw Shin Senior Legal Specialist Law Library, Library of Congress 4 Supra note 1. 5/ Id. at 31. TURKEY Newly elected members of the National Assembly of Turkey take office at 3:00 p.m. on the fifth day after the announcement of the election results by the High Election Council. 1/ The election process for the new president starts 30 days before the end of the incumbent president's term and shall be completed within 30 days. Depending on the length of time for the results of the election to be taken, the interval between the election and the subsequent 2/ taking of office by the new president may last up to 30 days. Prepared by Belma Bayar Legal Specialist Near Eastern and African Law Division Law Library, Library of Congress October, 1983 1/ Article 77 of the Constitution of Turkey [Const.] in Türkiye Cumhuriyeti Anayasasi 127 (Ankara, Millet Meclisi Ofset Tesisi, 1983) and Article 3 of Regulations of National Assembly No. 384 of 1973, as amended in F. Coker, S. Kazanci & F. Kazanci Türkiye Cumhuriyeti Tüzükleri 54-1 (Ankara, Is Matbaacilik ve Ticaret, 1978). 2/ Id., Const., Art. 102, at 160. |