TheJakartaPost
Please Update your browser
Your browser is out of date, and may not be compatible with our website. A list of the most popular web browsers can be found below.
Just click on the icons to get to the download page.
Golkar, Gerindra race for MPR post
Bambang Soesatyo of the Golkar Party and Ahmad Muzani of the Gerindra Party are the two candidates vying for the MPR speaker post in a race that may shape the power constellation of the legislature and the upcoming Cabinet of President Jokowi.
Change Size
President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo (left), Vice President Jusuf Kalla (center) and then-house speaker Bambang Soesatyo (right) prepare to break the fast at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta in this file photo. (Antara/Akbar Nugroho Gumay)
T
wo large parties in the House of Representatives are battling for control of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) amid a plan to amend the Constitution to grant the legislature greater control over President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo's agenda.
Bambang Soesatyo of the Golkar Party and Ahmad Muzani of the Gerindra Party are the two candidates vying for the MPR speaker post in a race that may shape the power constellation of the legislature and the upcoming Cabinet of President Jokowi.
Political parties in the ruling coalition are divided over their support for Bambang, who has voiced opposition to a plan to amend the Constitution proposed by the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), the largest party in the House and in Jokowi's coalition.
The PDI-P, which has sought greater control over Jokowi’s upcoming Cabinet, has reiterated its plan to amend the Constitution to regain control over the government’s development agenda through the reinstatement of the State Policy Guidelines (GBHN).
Golkar has opposed the plan, and rallied support from the NasDem Party and the United Development Party (PPP) to support Bambang.
NasDem Party chairman Surya Paloh argued that Bambang, a former House speaker, was a more seasoned politician than Ahmad, a former MPR deputy speaker.
Surya said he hoped the factions in the MPR could reach a consensus on selecting its speaker, adding that it would be "very odd" if the members did not choose Bambang by acclamation at a plenary session planned to be held on Thursday.
