The directly elected nationalassembly, the lower house, is the formal centre of legislative power, but Mr Ravalomanana is keen to ensure that he and his ministerial team, rather than parliamentarians, set the agenda.
But before that, the 122 assembly members must do theirs, carefully juggling the conflicting demands of legislative independence, national sovereignty, the advance of democracy and the overpowering need to bring those responsible for Cambodia's national nightmare to justice.