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Golkar has held no internal talks on constitutional amendment: Party official
The Golkar Party is among the parties that have yet to decide on their stance regarding the latest proposal to amend the 1945 Constitution despite senior party politician and MPR speaker Bambang Soesatyo being among the first to raise the proposal last week.
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People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) Speaker Bambang Soesatyo of the Golkar Party talks with attendees of a discussion about the four pillars of the assembly at the Senayan legislative complex in Jakarta on May 29, 2024. (Antara/Galih Pradipta)
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he Golkar Party has not held any internal discussions regarding the latest proposal to amend the 1945 Constitution, a party executive has said, despite recent statements from senior party politician Bambang Soesatyo that have led to some traction for the proposal.
The proposed constitutional amendment to scrap the direct presidential election system in Indonesia has split opinions among parties in the House of Representatives.
At least two factions, the National Awakening Party (PKB) and the NasDem Party, are among the proponents of the plan by agreeing or partially agreeing with the amendment.
On the other hand, the proposal has met opposition from other parties, including the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), the Democratic Party, the National Mandate Party (PAN) and the United Development Party (PPP).
Meanwhile, Golkar seemed to be undecided on its stance on the proposal. But party executive Dave Laksono said the plan was not among things being discussed by Golkar officials.
“Golkar has had no internal discussions on the matter,” he told The Jakarta Post on Tuesday.
Read also: Fresh call for constitutional amendment splits House
Dave made the statement despite the fact that Bambang, who is also the incumbent People’s Consultative Assembly (MPR) speaker, reportedly stated last week that all House factions supported a constitutional amendment, focusing on erasing the direct presidential elections after reflecting on the “brutal” polls in February.
Bambang himself seemingly backtracked on his statement on Saturday, saying that his words had been taken out of context and that the MPR was conveying aspirations it received, without deciding on anything yet.
Golkar, which backed president-elect Prabowo Subianto in this year’s presidential race, won the second-most votes in the legislative elections trailing behind PDI-P.
Prabowo’s Gerindra Party has also yet to decide on its stance on the proposed constitutional amendment, with party executive Sufmi Ahmad Dasco saying that the party was focusing on the upcoming regional elections, slated for November, and the swearing-in of the new president in October.
