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‘Limited’ constitutional amendment push sparks criticism
Concerns abound that the change could upend Indonesia’s democratic system as it will revive an authority of a legislative body to dictate government policies.
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President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo delivers a speech before the People’s Consultative Assembly (MPR) at the Nusantara building in Jakarta on Monday. (BPMI Setpres/Lukas)
T
he People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) signaled this week that it would move forward with a plan for a “limited amendment” to the 1945 Constitution, following talks with the executive branch of the government.
But concerns abound that the change could upend the country’s democratic system, with skeptics calling the revival of state policy guidelines “unnecessary”.
In a speech on Monday at the annual state of the nation address, MPR Speaker Bambang Soesatyo claimed it was necessary for the body to introduce so-called state policy outlines (PPHN) to guide national development over the next 50 to 100 years, a clear echo of the state policy guidelines (GBHN) of the New Order era.
Through the PPHN, he suggested, the state’s long-term strategic plans could be realized sustainably and without being redirected by periodic changes in government.
“A limited amendment to the 1945 Constitution is needed, particularly the addition of the MPR’s authority to determine PPHN,” Bambang said during Monday’s joint executive and legislative session.
The plans to amend the Constitution include adding a passage to Article 3 to grant the MPR the authority to formulate the PPHN. The plan would also expand the House of Representatives’ authority under Article 23, granting it the ability to refuse the annual state budget proposal (RAPBN) or return it for correction should it fail to align with the goals set out in the PPHN.
Institutional support
