Constitutional amendment to empower DPD a possibility

The much-awaited Constitutional amendment to build the Regional Representative Council (DPD) as an equal partner of the House of Representatives may not happen any time soon, DPD speaker Irman Gusman says.

Irman insists, however, the amendment is possible by the time the DPD and House members complete their term in 2014.

“Ideally the consolidation of our democracy, marked by the DPD exercising check and balances roles should have been in place by 2014,” Irman said Monday.

He refused to set a certain date for the elusive amendment, citing stiff challenge from the House.

A proposal to amend the Constitution must be supported by one third of People’s Consultative Assembly (MPR) members, who comprise the 560 House members and 132 DPD members. A plenary session to amend the Constitution needs attendance of two thirds MPR members and the amendment needs approval from the simple majority of MPR members at hand.

Irman said that despite the absence of the Constitutional amendment, the DPD roles had been increasingly recognized and adopted in the legislation.

“We are building a momentum [for a Constitutional amendment]. It will happen if what we have done is accepted and formalized. Equality is a possibility,” he said.