It elects the president of the republic, who selects a prime minister from the majority coalition in the Council.

Those officers would then have two weeks to select a prime minister, who would appoint a cabinet.

Bảo Đại was then charged with selecting a prime minister and a cabinet.

The nation's interim government is expected to select a minister of higher education in coming months, when day-to-day running of the system could be handed back.

Once the results were finalised, the newly elected representatives selected a prime minister.

It takes a two-thirds majority to select a prime minister and form a new government.

The three members of the presidency would select a prime minister and would be required to make a unanimous choice.

A seven-member "council of elders" is supposed to select a new prime minister in two or three days.

Traders said there was optimism that Japan would select a new prime minister shortly.

The Communist Party plans to hold its 13th congress this month and is scheduled to select a new prime minister and party leader.