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Bill 'to protect' President from impeachment
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Amid debate over articles in the omnibus bill on job creation that would grant sweeping powers to President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo, allowing him to override laws and bylaws, Coordinating Economic Minister Airlangga Hartarto has come to Jokowi's defense, saying that the authority is important as it would protect the President from potential impeachment. (Antara/Sigid Kurniawan)
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mid debate over articles in the omnibus bill on job creation that would grant sweeping powers to President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo, allowing him to override laws and bylaws, Coordinating Economic Minister Airlangga Hartarto has come to Jokowi's defense, saying that the authority is important as it would protect the President from potential impeachment.
"Who’s the one who can be impeached? The President. Can the President be impeached because of ministers’ mistakes? Can the President be impeached because of governors' mistakes? [...] This is the problem. So we give discretion to the President," Airlangga said during a meeting with media leaders, including The Jakarta Post's, on Tuesday.
The bill, aimed at streamlining laws and regulations and bringing in more investment and creating jobs in the country, has come under fire, with the public questioning several articles in the draft law that is currently under deliberation at the House of Representatives.
Read also: Key points of labor reform in omnibus bill on job creation: What we know so far
Among the controversial articles is Article 170, which stipulates that the government can consult with the House when revoking laws, a process that, according to the Constitution, can only take place if the government issues a regulation in lieu of law (Perppu) and gets the House’s approval.
Article 166 has also been criticized, as it will enable bylaws and other regulations issued by regional administrations to be overturned by a presidential regulation (Perpres). If the bill is passed, the article would contradict a 2017 ruling of the Constitutional Court that prohibits the central government from revoking bylaws. The ruling handed that authority to the Supreme Court.
In making his case, Airlangga, who is also the chairman of the Golkar Party, a major supporter in the government coalition, cited a public debate during former president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's tenure, in which some said the president should be impeached following a rise of fuel prices.
