Jakarta,
Nov 25, 2016 (Antara) - Indonesia's political situation has been very dynamic
and interesting following a plan to reinstate Setya Novanto as House
Speaker, a position he had given up in December 2015 over the "Papa asks
for share" case.
Golkar Secretary General Idrus Marham confirmed that the party has sent a letter to the House of Representatives (DPR) concerning its wish to reinstate Novanto, the current chairman of Golkar, as House Speaker.
Golkar Secretary General Idrus Marham confirmed that the party has sent a letter to the House of Representatives (DPR) concerning its wish to reinstate Novanto, the current chairman of Golkar, as House Speaker.
Marham explained that Novanto was expected to cool down the political
situation in the country, as he is capable of improving the relations
between the government and the Parliament, and make the ties more
productive.
With Novanto at the top, the DPR would perform better in its supervisory, legislative and budgeting functions, he said.
The Golkar Party Executive Board (DPP) in a meeting on Nov 8 decided to
reinstate Novanto as House Speaker, because the party believed Novanto
was not proven guilty in "Papa Asks for shares" case, where he had been
accused of using the president's name to seek shares of gold and copper
mining company PT Freeport Indonesia last year.
Executive
Chairman of the Golkar Executive Board Nurdin Halid said the decision
was taken referring to the ruling of the Constitutional Court (MK)
concerning "Papa asks for share" case and also based on the fact that
the Parliament¿s Ethics Council (MKD never sanctioned Novanto.
The ruling by the MK accepted the judicial review submitted by Novanto
that said that a recording could not be viewed as an valid evidence.
Novanto is the general chairman of Golkar, and therefore, it is important to restore his name, Halid said.
Besides, Yorrys
Raweyai, Golkar coordinator for political, legal and security affairs,
said the current House Speaker, Ade Komarudin, would be replaced not
because he performed poorly but because of a need to restore the dignity
of the party.
Aziz Syamsuddin, Secretary of the Golkar Faction at the Parliament said
that he was ready to support his party¿s decision because Novanto is
the general chairman of Golkar, so it is important to restore his
name.
Novanto, a cadre of the Golkar party, gave up the position as House Speaker when he was facing charge of violation of ethical code in front of the Parliament's Ethics Council (MKD).
Novanto, a cadre of the Golkar party, gave up the position as House Speaker when he was facing charge of violation of ethical code in front of the Parliament's Ethics Council (MKD).
He was replaced by Ade Komarudin, another Golkar leader last year.
Later, in May 2016, Novanto was elected general chairman of the Golkar
party, and call for his reinstatement began.
On Nov 17, Novanto was received by President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) at the presidential palace to discuss domestic political affairs and the upcoming simultaneous regional elections (pilkada).
On Nov 17, Novanto was received by President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) at the presidential palace to discuss domestic political affairs and the upcoming simultaneous regional elections (pilkada).
Several
days later, on Nov 20, he held a meeting with Megawati Soekarnoputri,
chairperson of the ruling Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle
(PDIP), for two hours to reiterate Golkar's assurance of protecting and
supporting the Jokowi administration.
Novanto has vowed Golkar's support to the Jokowi Administration and his presidential reelection in 2019.
The support was a contrary to the stance of Golkar's previous chairman,
Aburizal Bakrie, who had declared Golkar as an opposition party.
However, the plan to return Novanto to the Parliament's top position
was questioned by former chairman of Golkar Party, Akbar Tandjung, who
said the party's executive board should not take any unilateral
decision.
The move should first be discussed with senior members of Golkar in the party's Advisory Council, Expert Council and other relevant bodies, Akbar Tanjung said on Nov 23.
The move should first be discussed with senior members of Golkar in the party's Advisory Council, Expert Council and other relevant bodies, Akbar Tanjung said on Nov 23.
"Such an important decision about the appointment of the Speaker of the
House, in my opinion, should not be made by the Golkar Executive Board
alone, and that too without seeking advice from or listening to seniors
in the party's Trustees Council, Consultative Council and Advisory
Council," he stressed.
If the move is not approved by all sides in Golkar, it could trigger a problem and a new conflict, he remarked.
Tanjung was worried that it could disrupt the unity within the party.
Besides, Golkar would need other parties' support in the House of
Representatives (DPR) and should offer a strong reasoning that is
acceptable to other parties and the public, he commented.
In
addition to being the current House Speaker, Ade Komarudin is a senior
and loyal member of Golkar and his dedication to the party is
unquestionable, Akbar Tanjung reminded.
A young politician of Golkar Party, Doli Kurnia, also questioned the decision to replace Komarudin with Novanto.
"We
should remember that Novanto was not fired but stepped down as House
Speaker. So, has Komarudin made any mistakes that he has to be
replaced," Kurnia said.
Kurnia called on the party's Advisor Board and Honorary Board to take a firm stance regarding the planned replacement.
In
the meantime, Feri Amsri, a researcher with the Constitutional Study
Center at the Padang-based University of Andalas, in a press conference
on "Rejecting Political Move to Reinstate Setya Novanto as House
Speaker" organized by the Indonesia Corruption Watch (ICW) on Nov 23,
said that the Golkar Party was forgetting the fact that Setya Novanto
had resigned as the House Speaker.
"His
decision to resign was made before the MKD made a decision whether to
sanction him or not. It means Setya Novanto was no longer the House
Speaker because of his own decision and not due to the decision of MKD
in his case," he explained.
Therefore, the decision of MKD to restore Novanto¿s name must not
become an excuse to reinstate him as House Speaker, he argued.
It would be up to the politicians in the Parliament whether to accept Novanto's return or not.
Deputy
House Speaker Fadli Zon has hinted that the DPR leaders are ready to
process reinstatement of Novanto to his former position as House
Speaker.
"We will see. We will process it in line with the mechanism effective in the DPR," Zon said recently. ***2***
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(T.F001/A/BESSR/F. Assegaf) 25-11-2016
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EDITED BY INE
(T.F001/A/BESSR/F. Assegaf) 25-11-2016
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