Clarification sought on VP's new powers<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): While top politicians were confident of Megawati
\nSoekarnoputri's abilities, there was still no indication on
\nThursday of the extent of the Vice President's authority when the
\nPresident delegates the day-to-day running of the government to
\nher.<\/p>\n
Members of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI
\nPerjuangan) immediately demanded President Abdurrahman Wahid give
\nclear guidelines on the scope of her authority in the
\nadministration.<\/p>\n
Laksamana Sukardi, a member of the PDI Perjuangan and former
\nstate minister of investment and state enterprises development,
\nappealed to the President to give a clear job description to
\nMegawati so she knows exactly what is required of her.<\/p>\n
\"The government will remain ineffective and weak if the vice
\npresident does not have full authority in doing the tasks
\nentrusted to her,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Laksamana, who was axed by the President earlier this year,
\nnevertheless pointed out that the faction appreciated the
\nPresident's gesture and willingness to share a part of his power
\nwith the Vice President.<\/p>\n
The Golkar Party faction gave a thumbs-up to the President's
\ndecision and said the Vice President should head and coordinate
\nthe next Cabinet.<\/p>\n
\"We appreciate the President's decision because he is aware of
\nhis physical handicaps. And he has authority to do (delegate his
\nauthority) so because it is in line with the presidential
\nsystem,\" Golkar Party chairman Akbar Tandjung said.<\/p>\n
\"Megawati should be given a chance,\" he added.<\/p>\n
Akbar doubted that anyone would question Megawati's legitimacy
\nas her party won the most votes in the last general election.<\/p>\n
Authority<\/p>\n
Akbar indicated that Megawati's role should be more on the
\noperational side of running the government such as chairing
\nCabinet meetings and coordinating and following up on major
\ndecisions.<\/p>\n
Abdurrahman said on Thursday evening that a presidential
\ndecree outlining Megawati's mandate would be issued in
\nconjunction with the announcement of a new Cabinet.<\/p>\n
However, the President's remarks did nothing to clear up
\nspeculation about Megawati's eventual role.<\/p>\n
Yusuf Muhammad, chairman of the National Awakening Party (PKB)
\nfaction at the Assembly, said the Vice President's authority
\nwould be limited to tackling daily government chores, and would
\nnot signify a separation between the head of state and the head
\nof the government.<\/p>\n
\"The Vice President will be in charge of the daily government
\nadministration while the President will continue to retain
\ncontrol of the government,\" he said.<\/p>\n
People's Consultative Assembly Speaker Amien Rais also
\nwelcomed Megawati's greater role, but warned that this was a one-
\ntime exception and future governments would not be given the same
\nleeway.<\/p>\n
He added that the decision \"shows Gus Dur's big heart. Hats
\noff to him.\"<\/p>\n
He believed that as a result of the decision, the remaining
\nseven days of the Annual Session would not be so \"heated\".<\/p>\n
\"It was beginning to heat up ... Now it's cool and I believe
\nit will remain that way till the end of the session.\"<\/p>\n
\"Hopefully Megawati can do better. We have to be optimistic,\"
\nAmien said.<\/p>\n
Slamet Effendi Yusuf of the Golkar faction called on all sides
\nto give Megawati a chance to improve the government's
\nperformance.<\/p>\n
\"We have to support her to create a conducive situation. Don't
\nworry about her capabilities (for now),\" he told The Jakarta
\nPost.<\/p>\n
\"On the other hand, she must get all the authority she needs
\nin coordinating the Cabinet. I hope the President will no longer
\ninterfere too much in day-to-day administration,\" he added.<\/p>\n
Siswono Yudohusodo of the Interest Group faction also called
\non Megawati to be given room to run the government, including the
\nformation of a new Cabinet.<\/p>\n
\"In order to make the next Cabinet a strong team, Megawati
\nmust have authority to assemble it more actively although the
\ngovernment remains under the President's responsibility,\" he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Imam B. Prasodjo, a sociologist from the University of
\nIndonesia, said the move to give Megawati more authority had
\nprobably saved Abdurrahman Wahid from having to face political
\ndisarray from disgruntled political opponents.<\/p>\n
However, Kusnanto Anggoro from the Centre for Strategic and
\nInternational Studies (CSIS) warned that the new arrangement
\ncould pose new problems if Megawati failed in her task.<\/p>\n
\"If the mechanism does not work, it could bring both of them
\ndown,\" he said.(rms\/jun\/nvn)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/clarification-sought-on-vps-new-powers-1447893297",
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