constituteproject.org • Designation of commander in chief • Advisory bodies to the head of state PDF generated: 23 May 2016, 16:14 Article 56 The President of the Republic is the Supreme Head of the Armed Forces of which he guarantees the unity. As such, he is assisted by a High Council of the National Defense. The High Council of the National Defense, under the authority of the President of the Republic, has notably as its mission to see to the coordination of the actions entrusted to the Armed Forces to preserve the social peace. Its organization and its attributions are established by the law. The President of the Republic decides in the Council of Ministers on the engagement of the forces and of the military means for external intervention, after the opinion of the High Council of the National Defense and of the Parliament. He orders in the Council of Ministers the provision for national defense under all its military, economic, social, cultural, territorial and environmental aspects. The President of the Republic appoints the military officers called to represent the State before international organs. • Foreign affairs representative • Head of state powers • International organizations Article 57 The President of the Republic appoints and recalls the ambassadors and the extraordinary envoys of the Republic before other States and the International Organizations. He receives the letters of credential and of recall of the representatives of the States and of the International Organizations recognized by the Republic of Madagascar. • Head of state powers Article 58 • Power to pardon The President of the Republic exercises the right of pardon. He confers the decorations and the honors of the Republic. • Approval of general legislation • Veto override procedure Article 59 The President of the Republic promulgates the laws within the three weeks following the transmission by the National Assembly of the definitively adopted law. Before the expiration of this time period, the President of the Republic may demand of the Parliament a new deliberation of the law or of some of its Articles. This new deliberation may not be refused. • Dismissal of the legislature Article 60 The President of the Republic can, after briefing with the Prime Minister, and after consultation with the Presidents of the Assemblies, pronounce the dissolution of the National Assembly. The general elections are held sixty days at least and ninety days at most after the pronouncement of the dissolution. The National Assembly meets of plain right the second Thursday that follows its election. If this meeting takes place outside of the specified period for the ordinary session, a session is opened of right for a duration of fifteen days. It may not proceed to a new dissolution within the two years that follow these elections. Madagascar 2010 Page 15