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Golkar chairmanship race may determine fate of Constitution amendment
The original version of the Constitution mandated the MPR to elect the president and vice president and to draft the State Policy Guidelines (GBHN), which if passed through the amendment plan, will effectively eliminate direct presidential and regional elections.
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People's Representatives Assembly (MPR) Speaker Bambang Soesatyo (left) shakes hands with incumbent Golkar Party chairman Airlangga Hartarto. Both will compete in the upcoming race for the party's top post. ( ANTARA / Nova Wahyudi)
T
he chairmanship race of Golkar, the country’s third-largest party, in which People’s Representatives Assembly (MPR) Speaker Bambang Soesatyo is running as a candidate, may push forward the controversial Constitution amendment plan that seeks greater power of legislative bodies over elections and the executive branch of the government.
Bambang, who won the MPR speaker race after pledging to support the amendment plan which was initiated by ruling party Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), said he had already compiled six amendment options, with the most recent one being to bring the Constitution back to its original form in 1945.
"That was the latest option I received from the public. There are some other plans too, namely limited amendments, a complete change to the Constitution, or not to change it at all."
The original version of the Constitution mandated the MPR to elect the president and vice president and to draft the State Policy Guidelines (GBHN), which if passed through the amendment plan, will effectively eliminate direct presidential and regional elections.
The reinstatement of the authority of the assembly to formulate the GBHN will also deprive the current government’s autonomy to set its own development goals, which is now stipulated in the national medium-term development plan (RPJMN).
Bambang said he would not close other options, including the limited revision that would only focus on reviving the GBHN.
"We will allow any issue developing in the public. I personally think that what currently exists in our Constitution is fine," he said.
