The President of the Republic, who is the Head of State, shall see to the respect for and enforcement of the Constitution and the stability of the institutions. He shall ensure the regular operations of the public authorities and the continuity of the State.

The President of the Republic shall choose a Prime Minister from among the members of the majority party of the Parliament. In the absence of such a majority, the President of the Republic shall choose his Prime Minister in consultation with the President of the Senate and the President of the House of Deputies.

In either case, the President's choice must be ratified by the Parliament.

The President of the Republic shall terminate the duties of the Prime Minister upon the letter's submission of the Government's resignation.

The President of the Republic is the guarantor of the nation's independence and the integrity of its territory.

He shall negotiate and sign all international treaties, conventions and agreements and submit them to the National Assembly for ratification.

He shall accredit ambassadors and special envoys to foreign powers, receive letters of accreditation from ambassadors of foreign powers and issued exequatur to consuls.

He declares war, and negotiates and signs peace treaties with the approval of the National Assembly.

With the approval of the Senate, the President appoints, by a decree issued in the Council of Ministers, the Commander-in-chief of the armed forces, the Commander-in-chief of the police, ambassadors and consul generals.

By a decree issued in the Council of Ministers, the President of the Republic appoints the directors general of the civil service, and delegates and vice delegates of Departments and Arrondissements.

He also appoints, with the approval of the Senate, Administrative Councils of Autonomous Agencies.

The President of the Republic is the nominal head of the armed forces, but he never commands them in person.

He has the seal of the Republic affixed to all laws and promulgates them within deadline stipulated by the Constitution. Before the expiration of that deadline, he may avail himself of his right of objection.

He sees to the enforcement of judicial decisions, pursuant to the law.

The President of the Republic has the right to perform and commute sentences in all res judica cases, except for sentences handed down by the High Court of Justice as stipulated in this Constitution.

He may grant amnesty only for political matters as stipulated by law.

If the President finds it temporarily impossible to discharge his duties the Executive Authority shall be vested in the Council of Ministers under the Presidency of the Prime Minister, so long as the disability continues.

Should the office of the President of the Republic become vacant for any reason, the President of the Supreme Court of the Republic, or in his absence, the Vice President of that Court, or in his absence, the judge with the highest seniority and so on by order of seniority, shall be invested temporarily with the duties of the President of the Republic by the National Assembly duly convened by the Prime Minister- The election of a new President for a new five (5) year term shall be held at least forty-five (45) and no more than ninety (90) days after the vacancy occurs, pursuant to the Constitution and the Electoral Law.

The acting President may in no case be a candidate in the next Presidential election.

The President of the republic shall have no powers other than those accorded to him by the Constitution.

At the opening of each annual session of the Legislature, the President of the Republic shall deliver a message to the Legislature on the State of the Nation. This message may not be debated.

The President of the Republic shall receive a monthly salary from the Public Treasury upon taking the oath of office.

The President of the Republic shall have his official residence in the National Palace, in the capital city, unless the seat of the Executive Branch is moved.

The President of the Republic presides over the Council of Ministers.