Obama's visit expected to improve RI democracy: Lawmaker

The visit of US President Barack Obama to Indonesia in March is expected to help improve democracy in the country, House of Representatives Deputy Speaker Pramono Anung says.

"With democracy making progress, we can expect democracy to lead us to prosperity. So far, our democracy has only revolved around debates," Pramono, from the opposition bloc the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), told reporters on Tuesday.

Pramono added that the House would openly welcome Obama should he decide to visit the legislative body during his trip to his childhood home of Jakarta.

Obama spent several years of his childhood in Jakarta, where he went to a state elementary school in Menteng, Central Jakarta for two years.