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House to have 15 more lawmakers in 2019
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Home Affairs Minister Tjahjo Kumolo is seen at a meeting with the Election Bill Special Committee at the House of Representatives on Tuesday, May 30, 2017. (Antara/Wahyu Putro A. )
T
he central government and the House of Representatives agreed during a deliberation of the Election Bill on Tuesday to add 15 more seats to the legislative body after the 2019 election.
The decision will bring the total number of lawmakers sitting at the House to 575, representing the country’s 34 provinces.
Three of the additional seats will go to North Kalimantan as a new province. The rest will likely go to Riau, West Kalimantan, Papua and Lampung. No province will have its existing number of seats reduced, according to National Awakening Party (PKB) lawmaker Lukman Edy, who chairs the Election Bill Special Committee.
Previously, the House insisted on adding 19 more seats for the sake of “equity and proportionality,” because many regions have reported an increasing population, thus requiring more representative seats.
However, the Home Ministry rejected the figure, agreeing to settle for an additional 10 to 15 seats.
“We know that this all is for equity and proportionality, but adding 15 more seats is still possible and effective,” said Home Minister Tjahjo Kumolo.
The ministry previously said that too many seats at the House would burden the State Budget. (foy)
