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Megawati laments lack of interest in restoring MPR’s power
Putting the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) back as the country's highest law-making institution should help addressing problems that require a constitutional amendment, PDI-P chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri has suggested in her recent speech.
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Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri delivers her speech during the inauguration of the party's top officials at the PDI-P's headquarters in Lenteng Agung, South Jakarta, on July 5, 2024. Among the newly inaugurated officials are former Central Java governor Ganjar Pranowo and former Jakarta governor Basuki “Ahok“ Tjahaja Purnama. (Antara/Indrianto Eko Suwarso)
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ormer president and Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri lamented the lack of interest among political parties in restoring the People’s Consultative Assembly’s (MPR) power as the highest law-making institution.
“I’ve been saying over and over that the [Assembly] should be turned into the highest [body] to deliberate national issues, not only trivial issues. But no one wants it; the parties don’t want it,” she said in her speech at Perindo Party’s national working meeting in Jakarta on Tuesday.
After its congresses in 2016 and 2019, the PDI-P has been pushing for a limited amendment to the 1945 Constitution to grant the Assembly greater power to formulate and enforce the State Policy Guidelines (GBHN).
Used to set the country’s long-term development priorities, the document and the Assembly’s authority to draft it were the institution’s main aspects during the regime of former president Soeharto.
Megawati had long voiced concerns about the disconnect between the national policy and the national long-term development goals (RPJMN); a worry reiterated during her speech on Tuesday.
“Pancasila isn’t consistently being implemented, neither is nationalism. So what does [our nation want]? Let’s discuss it,” Megawati said.
“If we have made the rules, be consequential. When [the Assembly’s] status is being lowered, how [should we address] issues that need a Constitutional amendment?” she continued.
