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PDI-P and two pro-Anies parties call for House inquiry in plenary
House of Representatives members marked their return from recess on Tuesday with some factions calling for the House to open an inquiry into reports of irregularities and fraud that allegedly marred last month’s general election.
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Lawmakers attend a House of Representatives plenary session on March 5, 2024, at the Senayan legislative complex in Jakarta. (Antara/Galih Pradipta)
House of Representatives members marked their return from recess on Tuesday with some factions calling for the House to open an inquiry into reports of irregularities and fraud that allegedly marred last month’s election.
These lawmakers however have yet to present a formal proposal, and the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), the main proponent of an inquiry, appears to be biding its time to prepare its case and look for allies, as some have started to shift their tone.
Unofficial results of quick counts showed that Prabowo Subianto of the Gerindra Party, who ran with President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo’s son Gibran Rakabuming Raka, has won a comfortable lead in the presidential race ahead of rivals Anies Baswedan and the PDI-P’s candidate Ganjar Pranowo.
But both losing camps have refused to concede defeat in an election they claimed was tainted by voter intimidation and the misuse of state resources, leading to calls from the PDI-P for a House inquiry. Another party in the Ganjar camp and all three parties that supported Anies had reportedly thrown their weight behind Ganjar’s suggestion some two weeks before the House returned from recess.
During Tuesday’s House plenary, the pro-Anies Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) was the first to voice a call for an inquiry, with party member Aus Hidayat Nur saying that an inquiry would help to answer “growing public suspicions” of election fraud.
He was promptly followed by Luluk Nur Hamidah of the National Awakening Party (PKB), another party in Anies camp. In calling for a House inquiry, Luluk said that morals and ethics had stooped to an all-time low during last month’s election.
PDI-P politician Aria Bima also voiced a demand for an inquiry, saying that the House needed to “optimize” the monitoring functions is used for the Feb. 14 presidential and legislative elections.
