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New House shows little sign of improvement, analysts say
Formappi noticed that elections had yet to show any sign of reward or punishment for lawmakers. Researcher Lucius Karus pointed out that the House’s poor performance in the previous term did not deter voters from reelecting the same politicians in this year’s election.
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House of Representatives Speaker Puan Maharani (center) holds the gavel accompanied by her deputy speakers Azis Syamsuddin, Sufmi Dasco Ahmad, Rachmat Gobel and Muhaimin Iskandar after they were inaugurated as House speaker and deputy speakers on Oct. 1. (JP/Seto Wardhana)
D
espite an end to the intense protests against the House of Representatives spearheaded by university students over the past week, there does not appear to be much public enthusiasm for the newly elected lawmakers or a great deal of faith in their ability to represent the national interest for the next five years.
The 575 lawmakers were inaugurated amid high tensions outside the House’ compound in Senayan, Central Jakarta, last Wednesday as students and members of various organizations took to the streets in protest at contentious bills and the controversial passing of a revised Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) Law.
The lawmakers from nine political parties secured their seats after passing the legislative threshold during the 2019 legislative elections held concurrently for the first time with the presidential election in April.
According to data from the General Elections Commission (KPU), 321 of the 575 lawmakers -- 56 percent of the total number -- are incumbent lawmakers who served during the 2014-2019 period.
Indonesian Parliament Watch (Formappi) found that the high number of incumbents was a result of their success in wooing voters in their respective electoral districts through their political work.
However, Formappi also noticed that elections had yet to show any sign of reward or punishment for lawmakers. Researcher Lucius Karus pointed out that the House’s poor performance in the previous term did not deter voters from reelecting the same politicians in this year’s election.
During the previous term, the House only passed 91 bills into law -- less than half the target of 189 bills set in the 2014-2019 National Legislation Program (Prolegnas).
