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West Java governor in spotlight for populist moves sidelining legislature
Three months into office, West Java governor Dedi Mulyadi is already under the spotlight for his populist rhetoric and policies that sideline the role of the provincial legislature.
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Sparking criticism: West Java governor-elect Dedi Mulyadi (center) salutes on Jan. 10 after a plenary meeting at the West Java Council building to announce the result of the province's regional head elections. (Antara/Novrian Arbi)
W
est Java governor Dedi Mulyadi of the Gerindra Party is under the spotlight for his populist rhetoric and policies that sideline the role of the provincial legislature and ignore human rights just three months after he assumed office in the country’s most populous province.
His latest remarks about his preference to solve the province’s problems directly rather than discussing them first with the West Java Legislative Council (DPRD) prompted backlash from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), the fourth largest party at the council.
“If I have to go through a discussion with the DPRD just to demolish a building on a river bank, the talk will never end because there are different party constituents in the council [...] That’s why I do it myself,” Dedi said at the development planning gathering on May 7.
This sparked strong reactions from PDI-P councilors, who during the council’s plenary meeting on Friday staged a walkout as they criticized Dedi for “discrediting altogether the West Java regional council’s roles”.
“From his statement, the governor does not seem to need any opinions from us, DPRD members, in developing West Java,” PDI-P councilor Doni Maradona Hutarabat said.
At the time, Dedi, a politician of Gerindra, the largest party at the West Java legislature, was absent from the meeting. He was represented by his deputy.
Dedi responded in front of the media later the same day, saying “everyone has the right to do a walkout”, Kompas TV reported.
