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.

Jakarta Post

Why returning GBHN means rolling back democracy in Indonesia

There are concerns that the current plan to amend the Constitution will abolish reforms that have been made earlier.

Ivany Atina Arbi (The Jakarta Post)
Premium
Jakarta
Wed, October 16, 2019

Share This Article

Change Size

Why returning GBHN means rolling back democracy in Indonesia A plenary meeting of the People’s Consultative Assembly on Thursday, Oct. 3, in Jakarta. (JP/Seto Wardhana)

A

n amendment of the Constitution is on the horizon after all political parties in the legislature have agreed to work on its deliberation in the next five years.

Despite lawmakers' vow to limit the revision only to reviving the State Policy Guidelines (GBHN), there is no guarantee that they would keep the promise and not restore the New Order's system of indirect presidential elections by the People’s Consultative Assembly, making it a super body that will be more powerful than the president.   

Experts have said there are indications that the amendment process will eventually move toward abolishing the current direct presidential elections, which came into effect in 2004 after the fourth set of constitutional amendments.

A politician of the ruling Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) that spearheaded the amendment agenda, Hendrawan Supratikno, has previously revealed several points suggested to be revised by the next Assembly.

The recommendations include a reformulation of the GBHN to serve as a benchmark for a president's policies, and restructuring the Assembly's authority to issue regeling, or decrees having higher legal power than laws while still remaining subordinate to the Constitution.

 

How powerful was the Assembly during the Soeharto era?

to Read Full Story

  • Unlimited access to our web and app content
  • e-Post daily digital newspaper
  • No advertisements, no interruptions
  • Privileged access to our events and programs
  • Subscription to our newsletters
or

Purchase access to this article for

We accept

TJP - Visa
TJP - Mastercard
TJP - GoPay

Redirecting you to payment page

Pay per article

Why returning GBHN means rolling back democracy in Indonesia

Rp 29,000 / article

1
Create your free account
By proceeding, you consent to the revised Terms of Use, and Privacy Policy.
Already have an account?

2
  • Palmerat Barat No. 142-143
  • Central Jakarta
  • DKI Jakarta
  • Indonesia
  • 10270
  • +6283816779933
2
Total Rp 29,000
{

Your Opinion Matters

Share your experiences, suggestions, and any issues you've encountered on The Jakarta Post. We're here to listen.

Enter at least 30 characters
0 / 30

Thank You

Thank you for sharing your thoughts. We appreciate your feedback.