DPD seeks equality with the House<\/p>\n
Kurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The successful election of leaders of the People's Consultative
\nAssembly has inspired the Regional Representatives Council (DPD)
\nto propose amendments to the Constitution that would encourage
\nequality between the council and the House of Representatives.<\/p>\n
The plan was unveiled on Tuesday during a DPD plenary session
\nto hear progress reports from some of its working groups,
\nincluding one on the formation of a disciplinary council and
\nanother on relations with the House.<\/p>\n
\"We will assign a separate committee to propose amendments to
\nthe Constitution and some related laws. The changes are needed to
\nestablish equality between the two law-making bodies,\" DPD member
\nMuspani said on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
Though DPD members are directly elected by the people, the
\nConstitution and Law No. 22\/2003 on the composition of the
\nAssembly, the House, the DPD and regional legislatures, reduce
\nthe DPD to secondary status compared to the House.<\/p>\n
According to legislation, DPD members will be invited to
\nattend House plenary sessions only to hear the president deliver
\nthe draft state budget.<\/p>\n
The DPD has little legislative power, but can provide
\nsuggestions to the House regarding the deliberation of bills on
\nthe state budget and regional administration. DPD members can
\nsubmit their suggestions, but they are not involved in
\ndeliberating bills.<\/p>\n
The DPD was introduced this year as Indonesia moved to a
\nbicameral representation system in the wake of flagging public
\ntrust in political parties. The DPD emulates the Senate in the
\nUnited States.<\/p>\n
Each province has four representatives in the DPD who, like
\nHouse members, were elected in the legislative election.<\/p>\n
The struggle for equality with the House gained momentum
\nearlier this month when the 128-strong DPD push for an Assembly
\nleadership consisting of two House and two DPD representatives.<\/p>\n
House members, particularly from parties included in the
\nNationhood Coalition, rejected the quota, saying the Assembly
\ncomprised individual members of the House and the DPD, not two
\ninstitutions.<\/p>\n
GKR Hemas, a DPD member from Yogyakarta, said the Constitution
\nand existing legislation provided the DPD with a weak bargaining
\nposition vis-a-vis the House.<\/p>\n
She said the proposed constitutional amendments would be
\ndiscussed by a nine-member team.<\/p>\n
The Assembly has amended the Constitution four times since
\n1999, with the last amendment resulting in the introduction of
\nthe DPD.<\/p>\n
DPD Speaker Ginandjar Kartasasmita said the DPD would take as
\na reference the work of the Constitutional Commission, which has
\nassessed all of the constitutional amendments between 1999 and
\n2003.<\/p>\n
The commission has said the amendments were flawed and
\naccommodated too many short-term political interests.<\/p>\n
\"The commission suggested, among other things, the DPD's right
\nto veto bills sponsored by the House,\" Ginandjar said.<\/p>\n
The DPD will also propose a revision to the law on the
\ncomposition of legislative bodies, he added.<\/p>\n
Some DPD members attending the plenary session on Tuesday also
\nproposed that the DPD be given the authority to summon the
\npresident to explain the draft budget.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/dpd-seeks-equality-with-the-house-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}