annex 1 (2) The Deputy-Ombudsmen have the same competence as the Ombudsman to consider and decide on those oversight-of-legality matters that the Ombudsman has allocated to them or that they have taken up on their own initiative. (3) If a Deputy-Ombudsman deems that in a matter under his or her consideration there is reason to issue a reprimand for a decision or action of the Government, a Minister or the President of the Republic, or to bring a charge against the President or a Justice of the Supreme Court or the Supreme Administrative Court, he or she shall refer the matter to the Ombudsman for a decision. Section 15 Decision-making by the Ombudsman The Ombudsman or a Deputy-Ombudsman shall make their decisions on the basis of drafts prepared by referendary officials, unless they specifically decide otherwise in a given case. Section 16 Substitution (24.8.2007/804) (1) If the Ombudsman dies in office or resigns, and the Parliament has not elected a successor, his or her duties shall be performed by the senior Deputy-Ombudsman. (2) The senior Deputy-Ombudsman shall perform the duties of the Ombudsman also when the latter is recused or otherwise prevented from attending to his or her duties, as provided for in greater detail in the Rules of Procedure of the Office of the Parliamentary Ombudsman. (3) Having received the opinion of the Constitutional Law Committee on the matter, the Parliamentary Ombudsman shall choose a substitute for a Deputy-Ombudsman for a term in office of not more than four years. (4) When a Deputy-Ombudsman is recused or otherwise prevented from attending to his or her duties, these shall be performed by the Ombudsman or the other Deputy-Ombudsman as provided for in greater detail in the Rules of Procedure of the Office, unless the Ombudsman, as provided for in Section 19 a, paragraph 1, invites a substitute for a Deputy-Ombudsman to perform the Deputy-Ombudsman’s tasks. When a substitute is performing the tasks of a Deputy-Ombudsman, the provisions of paragraphs (1) and (2) above concerning a Deputy-Ombudsman shall not apply to him or her. Section 17 Other duties and leave of absence (1) During their term of service, the Ombudsman and the Deputy-Ombudsmen shall not hold other public offices. In addition, they shall not have public or private duties that may compromise the credibility of their impartiality as overseers of legality or otherwise hamper the appropriate performance of their duties as Ombudsman or Deputy-Ombudsman. (2) If the person elected as Ombudsman, Deputy-Ombudsman or Director of the Human Rights Centre holds a state office, he or she shall be granted leave of absence from it for the duration of their term of service as as Ombudsman, Deputy-Ombudsman or Director of the Human Rights Centre (20.5.2011/535). 109