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New DPD speaker defends legality of his election
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Heated debate: Regional Representatives Council (DPD) members debate during a plenary meeting to select a new speaker and deputy speakers on April 3. (Antara/Puspa Perwitasari)
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ewly elected Regional Representatives Council (DPD) Speaker Oesman Sapta Odang insists his election is legitimate despite rejections raised by several council members.
He asserted that the election of the DPD speaker was fully the authority of the council’s members.
“Given the conditions during the plenary session and the fact that the election of the new leader was done by acclamation, then it’s legitimate,” said Oesman on Tuesday.
“The replacement of a leader is the authority of all councillors attending a plenary session. [To replace the speaker] depends on the councillors and their needs, just like the House of Representatives and the People’s Consultative Assembly [MPR], which can replace their speakers at any time," the Hanura Party chairman added.
(Read also: DPD embroiled in claims Oesman's election was illegal)
Oesman replaced M. Saleh. New deputy speakers Nono Sampono and Darmayanti Lubis were elected to replace Gusti Kanjeng Ratu Hemas and Farouk Muhammad.
Several DPD members consider Oesman’s election to have violated a Supreme Court ruling stating that the council’s speakership was a five-year term.
The Supreme Court annulled DPD Regulation No. 1/2016, which halves the tenure of council speakers and deputy speakers from five years to two-and-a-half years. It also revoked DPD Regulation No. 1/2017, which stipulates the 2016 regulation is applicable for speakers serving during the 2014-2019 period.
In line with the Supreme Court ruling, the DPD should let Saleh continue his leadership until 2019. However, several councillors, most of whom are members of the Hanura Party, insisted on the election of new leaders, claiming that the ruling was not valid due to editorial errors.
The DPD’s new leaders are scheduled to be inaugurated on Tuesday afternoon. (ebf)
