T

he Democratic Party and Golkar seem to have compromised over the Bank Century affair, with the former gaining control of the inquiry committee and the latter having the President and Vice President protected.

A Golkar legislator will chair the inquiry committee, which has full rights to probe the Rp 6.76 trillion (US$716.56 million) bailout of Bank Century, including summoning Finance Minister Sri Mulyani, Vice President Boediono and even President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.

Democratic Party leaders said here Thursday that both parties had agreed to name Golkar secretary-general Idrus Marham, the party's chairman Aburizal Bakrie's most trusted aide, to head the committee.

A high ranking official of the Democratic Party said that a caucus involving his party, Golkar, the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS), the National Mandate Party (PAN) and the National Awakening Party (PKB), had made a deal to endorse Idrus.

Priyo Budi Santoso, another executive from Golkar, confirmed to reporters at the House Thursday that his party would definitely nominate Idrus to chair the committee.

As compensation, Golkar agreed to limit the inquiry committee's investigations by leaving Yudhoyono and Boediono off the hook, leaving only Sri Mulyani remaining in the hot seat.

Aburizal made it clear that the committee would not go after Yudhoyono and Boediono, let alone aim to start an impeachment process.

"Golkar is going to be at the frontline in the inquiry committee at the House of Representatives. However, it is very important not to let the committee move to an impeachment agenda. Whatever the reasons, Pak SBY *Yudhoyono* and Boediono are the symbols of the nation. Therefore, they must be saved," he said.

Sri Mulyani and Boediono have been considered to be the alleged main culprits behind the decision to carry out the bailout to save Bank Century in November last year. During that time, Boediono was the governor of Bank Indonesia.

The bailout amount was considered scandalous because it was a lot higher than the Rp 1.3 trillion originally agreed by the House.

Golkar has also officially named six legislators, including Idrus, as committee members. Golkar faction secretary Ade Komarudin said the other five were himself, Ibnu Munzir, Melkias Mekeng, Bambang Soesatyo and Agun Gunanjar.

Democratic Party chairman Anas Urbaningrum said his party would send him, Yahya Sacawiria, Benny Kabur Harman, Achsanul Qosasi, Radityo Gambiro, I Wayan Gunastra, Agus Hermanto and Ruhut Sitompul as inquiry members.

Combined together, Golkar and the Democratic Party have a total of 14 out of the 30 available votes on the committee. Should the selection of chairman not be by consensus there would be a vote. This would give Idrus a big advantage if Golkar and the Democratic Party agreed to endorse him.

The main other contender for the chairmanship post will be Gayus Lumbuun from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P). One of PDI-P faction leaders, Puan Maharani, said that her party, the largest opposition bloc at the House, would nominate Gayus to chair the commission.