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Badrodin to lead National Police, embattled Budi tipped for deputy
Something to laugh about: President Joko âJokowiâ Widodo (center) jokes with House Speaker Setya Novanto (right) and Deputy Speaker Fadli Zon at the House of Representatives in Jakarta on Monday
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span class="inline inline-center">Something to laugh about: President Joko 'Jokowi' Widodo (center) jokes with House Speaker Setya Novanto (right) and Deputy Speaker Fadli Zon at the House of Representatives in Jakarta on Monday. The President met with lawmakers to discuss the National Police chief candidacy and the revised 2015 state budget. JP/Wendra Ajistyatama
Satisfied with President Joko 'Jokowi' Widodo's explanation of why he chose Comr. Gen. Badrodin Haiti to lead the National Police, the House of Representatives will formally give Badrodin its blessing, enabling him to fill the top police position by the end of the month.
The House's Commission III overseeing legal affairs is scheduled to hold a hearing to confirm Badrodin's nomination in two weeks' time, which was agreed to allow lawmakers from the ruling Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) to participate in the process after the party's national congress on April 8-12.
'None of us explicitly rejected the [President's] explanation. Several political factions did present critical notes in their response, but the majority of us accepted it,' House Deputy Speaker Fadli Zon told the press after a three-hour meeting with Jokowi on Monday.
Fadli, a politician from the Gerindra Party, further said that a plenary meeting on Tuesday would officially assign Commission III to proceed with the process.
Monday's meeting was arranged because of a House request that Jokowi elaborate on his decision to uphold Badrodin's nomination over his earlier choice of Comr. Gen. Budi Gunawan, whose nomination was annulled after he was declared a suspect in a graft case.
Although the South Jakarta District Court cleared Budi's suspect status, Jokowi refused to re-nominate the former adjutant to former president and current PDI-P chief Megawati Soekarnoputri and instead called for the House to proceed with confirming Badrodin's nomination.
In a joint press conference at the House complex, Jokowi cited social and legal considerations to defend his decision.
'I explained that I did not inaugurate Comr. Gen. Budi Gunawan as National Police chief because it had caused public controversy. And thus, we nominate a new candidate to create peace in the public as well as to respond to the need [for a new chief] in the police,' said Jokowi.
Jokowi assured that despite perceptions of a tense relationship between the government and House on the matter, the meeting on Monday was conducted in a family-type atmosphere.
Jokowi's explanation apparently convinced the majority of political factions at the House, including the PDI-P, which had earlier been strongly opposed to dropping Budi's bid.
PDI-P executive Trimedya Panjaitan, who is a deputy chairman of Commission III, called for Jokowi to take measures to restore Budi's dignity. 'Jokowi will do something on this,' he assured.
Such measures may include nominating Budi as the National Police's deputy chief, a proposal that emerged during the meeting, according to several lawmakers in attendance.
Requesting anonymity due to the sensitivity of the issue, the lawmakers said Jokowi did not reject the proposal and said it was a feasible option if the police supported it.
The President also encouraged government officials and lawmakers not to intervene in the process should the National Police endorse Budi's nomination as deputy chief.
Responding to the matter, Badrodin claimed he did not know the strongest candidate for the deputy chief post, but hinted Budi could be among the candidates.
'I don't know,' he said later in the day on the sidelines of a meeting at the State Palace. '[But] it is possible,' he added in his response to growing speculation that Budi might be named his deputy.
According to Badrodin, the nomination of candidates for deputy police chief should be conducted in line with the existing mechanism, in which a candidate should be first proposed by the police leadership and its Rank and Promotion Council for High Ranking Officers (Wanjakti).
Wanjakti, Badrodin added, would propose one or several names to the President, who would have the final say.
'The process occurs after the police chief is inaugurated,' he added. 'Later, we will propose all the names that meet the requirements.'
Badrodin later expressed his optimism about his nomination, saying that he was ready to present his vision and mission regarding the police's priority programs in front of lawmakers.
