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s expected, a number of lawmakers have moved to file a petition to request the House of Representatives to exercise its interpellation right to demand an explanation from the government on last week'€™s decision to raise subsidized fuel prices.

Many will recall the protracted standoff between the government and House politicians over the controversial bailout of Bank Century in 2009, which led to the departure of then finance minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati.

It was a tumultuous period for then newly reelected president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, who witnessed his most trusted people, like then vice president Boediono and Sri Mulyani, face the music at the House after it approved an inquiry and later an investigation into the case.

The Legislative Institutions (MD3) Law requires at least 25 House members from two parties to propose a House inquiry into a government policy that they consider is in violation of the law. An inquiry, or interpellation, requires the consent of the House and if the government'€™s explanation is deemed unsatisfactory, the process can lead to a House-led investigation. If the House finds that the government'€™s policy is legally flawed, it can exercise its right to express an opinion, which can pave the way for a president'€™s impeachment.

Theoretically speaking, political maneuvering related to the fuel price increase marks the start of a long process that could potentially see President Joko '€œJokowi'€ Widodo at risk of impeachment. In reality, however, such an attempt is difficult to realize, given recent developments in the House, which is moving toward reconciliation between the majority opposition and the minority pro-government blocs.

The opportunity for the House to endorse an inquiry into the fuel price policy looks to be hanging in the balance, however, as until Monday afternoon only 18 politicians from the Golkar Party, the National Mandate Party (PAN), the Gerindra Party and the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) had signed the petition. In their statement, supporters of the petition said they could not understand the logic behind the government'€™s decision to raise subsidized fuel prices by Rp 2,000 (16 cents) per liter at a time when the market price was falling.

Last week, crude oil dropped to US$76 per barrel, with the average Indonesia Crude Price between January and October standing at $102 or $3 below the assumption set in the revised 2014 budget.

Clearly the lawmakers will deliberately disregard the fact that fuel subsidies have been accumulating and a price increase by Rp 2,000 per liter will do little to compensate for the state money burned to pamper private vehicle owners, including themselves. These politicians will turn a blind eye to the budget wasted on consumption, which for many years deprived the government of its opportunity to build basic infrastructure across the country.

Jokowi will not face any difficulty in responding to the inquiry if the House exercises its interpellation right, but the attempt to politically harass his government will not fade away quickly. The politicians will wait for the government to make a mistake and then will try again.