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Golkar decides to return Setya to House's top post
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Golkar Party chairman Setya Novanto (second left) shakes the hand of House of Representatives Speaker Ade Komarudin, while former president BJ Habibie (left) and the party's general secretary Idrus Marham (right) look on at a party meeting. The party decided on Nov. 21 to return Setya to the House's top post. (Antara Foto/M Agung Rajasa)
T
he House of Representatives is expected to see the comeback of Golkar chairman Setya Novanto as speaker in the near future as the party has decided to return Setya back the legislative institution’s top post, replacing fellow party member Ade Komarudin.
Golkar’s decision was made in a closed-door meeting at the party’s headquarters in Slipi, West Jakarta, on Monday as members of the party’s executive board agreed on returning Setya to the position.
A party executive, Fadh A. Rafiq, confirmed such a meeting and decision had occurred.
“The request [to replace Ade with Setya] were the aspirations from the bottom-up. However, members of the executive board also wanted the decision,” he told The Jakarta Post via a telephone interview after the meeting.
“None of those who were present [in the meeting] expressed rejections. All agreed [to reelect Setya as House speaker] with acclaim,” Fadh said, emphasizing that “we are waiting for the right time to execute the plan. The party’s headquarters will handle the details”.
Setya resigned as House speaker earlier in January over allegations of illicit lobbying in relation to a work contract with mining firm PT Freeport Indonesia.
Earlier, the Constitutional Court ruled that a recording used to incriminate Setya was obtained illegally and could not be used against him in court.
He has submitted an official letter to the House’s ethics council requesting his name be cleared from the Freeport scandal. (jun)
