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Jokowi keeps House under control after Arcandra fiasco
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Arcandra Tahar speaks to journalists at the Office of the Coordinating Maritime Affairs Minister on Aug. 9. (Antara/Akbar Nugroho Gumay)
P
resident Joko “Jokowi” Widodo has consolidated power so well that his blunder in appointing American national Arcandra Tahar a minister — a move some analysts say could lead to impeachment proceedings at the House of Representatives — is unlikely to disrupt his presidency.
With the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) being the only party initiating an inquiry into the fiasco, Jokowi will go unscathed through what many consider to be his worst blunder unscathed.
“There will be no legal implications for Jokowi. Instead, it will be a moment for the President to fix the recruitment system,” Dave Laksono of the Golkar Party said.
Golkar was once the largest opposition party before it changed its position earlier this year and secured a ministerial post in the latest Cabinet reshuffle.
Even the Gerindra Party, which is now the largest opposition party, has refused to politicize the issue.
House Deputy Speaker Fadli Zon, a Gerindra legislator, said it was possible for legislators to launch an inquiry but added that he preferred a friendlier approach.“If the government can explain briefly the reason behind its mistake, then it’s enough. We’ll see later if an inquiry is needed or not,” he said.
Without support, it will be hard for the PKS to launch an inquiry.
The 2014 Legislative Institutions Law (MD3) stipulates that a House inquiry must be proposed by at least 25 legislative members from more than one faction.
However, the Islamist party insisted on pushing for an inquiry into the scandal, saying what Jokowi did constituted “a disgrace to the country”.
“We have to use our right to inquire into the reason behind Arcandra’s appointment and dismissal. I really urge all fellow legislators to exercise this right,” said PKS politician Nasir Djamil, a member of House Commission III overseeing human rights, security and legal affairs.
Constitutional law expert Irman Putra Sidin from Hasanuddin University has claimed Jokowi might have violated the Constitution and said the House should not so quickly forgive the President without a formal procedure asking him to explain the reasons for his actions.
“The political parties should forgive though an inquiry, or this could damage our constitutional system,” he said, adding that excusing the President for his mistake would set a bad precedent.
But with a majority of political factions in the House now supporting the government, the President has little to worry about.
Of 580 legislators, Jokowi has secured the support of 386 legislators from seven political parties: 109 from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), 91 from Golkar, 48 from the National Mandate Party (PAN), 47 from the National Awakening Party (PKB), 39 from the United Development Party (PPP), 36 from the NasDem Party and 16 from the Hanura Party.
Arcandra was seen at the State Palace on Wednesday participating in Independence Day celebrations.
Amid the hustle-bustle of the ceremony, he was spotted entering State Palace at noon, two hours before the main flag-lowering ceremony took place. The former minister left the scene shortly after Jokowi moved on from State Palace. Arcandra did not immediately leave the palace compound. He made a short detour to the palace mosque to pray.
Arcandra said his visit was only a silaturahmi (a friendly meeting).
