49 Appointment of President 84.—(1) The President shall be appointed by Parliament in accordance with this section. (2) Whenever a vacancy arises in the office of the President, the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition shall nominate one name each to the Speaker who shall put both the names to the floor of Parliament for voting by the members of Parliament. (3) The person who receives the support of the majority of the members of Parliament present shall be appointed as the President, and the Speaker shall publicly announce the name of the President. (4) In the event that both persons nominated receive the same number of votes, the Speaker shall conduct the voting again after 24 hours, and voting shall continue until such time a person nominated as the President receives the support of the majority of the members of Parliament, provided however that if after 3 rounds of voting, no person receives the support of the majority of the members of Parliament, then the person nominated by the Prime Minister shall be announced by the Speaker as being appointed as the President by Parliament. (5) If the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition nominate the same person, then no voting shall take place and the Speaker shall publicly announce that person as being appointed as the President by Parliament. Term of office and remuneration 85.—(1) The President holds office for 3 years, and is eligible for re-appointment for one further term of 3 years, but is not eligible for re-appointment after that. (2) For the purposes of subsection (1), in determining whether a person is eligible for appointment or re-appointment, any period served before the commencement of this Constitution shall be taken into account. (3) The President shall receive such remuneration, allowances and other benefits, as prescribed by a written law made under section 80. Oath of office 86. Before taking office, the President must take before the Chief Justice the oath or affirmation of allegiance and office as set out in the Schedule in a public ceremony. Resignation 87. The President may resign from office by delivering a written notice of resignation to the Prime Minister who shall table the notice in Parliament. Chief Justice to perform functions in absence of President 88. If the President is absent from duty or from Fiji or is, for any other reason, unable to perform the functions of the President or if the office of the President becomes vacant for any reason, then the functions of the office of the President shall be performed by the Chief Justice.