House faction backs DPD's plan for more authority<\/p>\n
Kurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The planned move by the Regional Representatives Council (DPD) to
\ngrant itself greater authority through a constitutional amendment
\nhas won the support of the 57-strong Democratic Party faction in
\nthe House of Representatives.<\/p>\n
The 128-member DPD now needs to garner support from just 41
\nmore legislators to meet the requirement for an amendment as set
\nout in the Constitution.<\/p>\n
Based on the Constitution, the proposal for an amendment must
\nbe submitted by at least one-third of the members of the 678-
\nstrong People's Consultative Assembly (comprised of the 550-seat
\nHouse and the DPD), or equal to some 226 legislators.<\/p>\n
\"We will focus on amending articles to make the DPD equal --
\nin terms of authority -- with the House,\" said Hakim Sorimuda
\nPohan, deputy leader of the Democratic Party faction after a
\nmeeting with the DPD here on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
The DPD, had been campaigning for an amendment to the
\nConstitution even before its members were officially inaugurated
\nin October.<\/p>\n
At present, the Constitution states that the DPD has the
\nauthority to submit bills on regional affairs. However, they are
\nnot allowed to take part in the deliberation process.<\/p>\n
Soon after the 128 DPD members took their oaths of office on
\nOct. 1, they embarked on a series of meetings and unanimously
\nagreed to propose the amendment.<\/p>\n
The Democratic Party faction, which was cofounded by, and
\nnominated, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, is the first
\nfaction to express support for such an amendment.<\/p>\n
\"The DPD members must be involved in the lawmaking process
\nbecause they represent the aspirations of the regions,\" Hakim
\nadded.<\/p>\n
Hakim said that the deliberation of laws on the establishment
\nof new administrative divisions must also involve the DPD
\nmembers, because they were directly elected by people in each
\nregion of the country (four from each province).<\/p>\n
He gave the example of the conflict that broke out following
\nthe establishment of West Sulawesi province. According to him,
\nsuch conflicts could have been avoided if the DPD members were
\ninvolved in the deliberation process.<\/p>\n
After more than five decades since it was originally codified,
\nthe 1945 Constitution was amended for the first time in 1999.
\nThree more series of amendments followed in 2000, 2001 and 2002.<\/p>\n
The constitutional amendments resulted in the adoption of a
\nbicameral legislative system with the establishment of the DPD,
\nthe members of which were elected in the April 5, 2004 general
\nelection.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/house-faction-backs-dpds-plan-for-more-authority-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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