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Setya urged to resign as House speaker
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Gearing up: Agung Laksono (left), chairman of Golkar's board of experts, Akbar Tandjung (second left), the deputy chairman of Golkar disciplinary board, and former chairman Aburizal Bakrie (second right) accompany Golkar chairman Setya Novanto during the opening of the party's national leadership meeting in Balikpapan, East Kalimantan, in May. (Antara/M.Agung Rajasa)
F
ive of the 10 political factions at the House of Representatives have called on Speaker Setya Novanto to resign from his post after being named a graft suspect for his alleged role in the e-ID graft case.
The political factions, including the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), argued that the graft charges leveled against Setya tarnished the image of the legislative body and would undermine its performance.
"Considering the image and credibility of the legislative body, resignation is the best option," PDI-P faction deputy chairman Hendrawan Soepratikno said.
The KPK announced on Monday evening that Setya had been implicated in a scheme to embezzle funds earmarked for the e-ID project.
According to Legislative Institutions (MD3) Law, the Golkar Party, which is led by Setya, has the final say on whether to replace Setya.
"According to the law, we have no authority to force Setya to resign. But ethically, it's better for him to resign or his situation will affect the legislative agenda," Democratic Party faction secretary Didik Mukrianto said.
Setya is the second Golkar politician to be charged with graft while leading the party and holding the House speakership. In 2002, the Attorney General’s Office (AGO) charged then House speaker and Golkar chief Akbar Tanjung with corruption in connection to a State Logistics Agency (Bulog) graft case.
Akbar refused to resign and was later acquitted of all charges by the Supreme Court. (ary)
