It took the Baleg a few hours to secure approval, even though the revision of Law No. 19/2006 on the Wantimpres is not on the priority list of the National Legislative Program.

A similar modus operandi unfolded with the House's initiatives to amend the Ministry of State Law, the National Police Law and the Indonesian Military (TNI) Law. President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo has signed a letter of agreement to begin deliberations on the amendment to the National Police Law and the TNI Law.

While power brokers will never reveal the real motives behind the flurry of legal amendments, the drafts of the amended laws speak volumes.

In the new Ministry of State Law, the number of ministers, which is currently limited to 34 posts, is left to the discretion of the president. Similarly, the revision of the TNI law will expand the number of active officers who can hold civilian positions, currently limited to 10 institutions. If the House approves the Wantimpres Law, the Council will be renamed the Supreme Advisory Council (DPA) and its membership will depend on the president's wishes, allowing the head of state to increase the number of members, from currently nine to as many as possible.

While the Wantimpres Law was enacted 18 years ago to dissolve the DPA, the revision of the law is being rushed now to reinstate the DPA as a high state institution. Unsurprisingly, critics say the transformation of the Wantimpres into the DPA will mark another setback for Indonesian democracy.

The public is suspicious the DPA will only serve as a new game for outgoing President Jokowi to remain politically relevant after transferring power to Prabowo Subianto, his chosen successor who he helped win the Feb. 14 presidential race. Jokowi has said he will return to his hometown of Surakarta in Central Java and become “an ordinary citizen” after leaving office on Oct. 20, but Gerindra Party politician Maruarar Sirait, who is known for his proximity to Jokowi, says Jokowi may sit on the DPA due to his close ties with Prabowo.

Following his breakup with the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), Jokowi has been linked to various parties, including Golkar, but until today there have been no clues as to which party Jokowi will settle on. His youngest son Kaesang Pangarep now leads the minor Indonesian Solidarity Party (PSI), while son-in-law Bobby Nasution has changed loyalty to Gerindra after his dismissal from the PDI-P.

Before the House announced its initiative to amend the Wantimpres Law, Prabowo had talked about forming a presidential club, a forum that would bring together the country's former presidents to advise the sitting president on various national issues. Whether or not the amendment to the law fulfills Prabowo's dream, the legislative agenda will allow him as president to appoint his allies to the advisory council, including Jokowi.

The problem with the Wantimpres or the DPA is whether the president will listen to, not to mention follow, the advice of their members, especially if the recommendations contradict the president’s wishes. In most cases, a president will listen to his or her inner circle, who may not sit on the advisory council.

During his presidency, Jokowi has had a lot of people who have stood ready for consultation at any time either in the Wantimpres or Presidential Staff Office (KSP), as well as special staff and the seven millennial presidential special staff members.

In the end, the plan to amend the laws, including the Wantimpres Law, as well as the commissioner posts in state-owned enterprises being given to politicians from parties supporting the ruling coalition, will serve as a reward for those who helped realize the succession as continuity of the previous regime.