Megawati silent on 'compromise'<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI
\nPerjuangan) remained aloof on the likelihood of a new power
\nsharing deal, despite speculation that they would be the main
\nbenefactors of a revamped executive.<\/p>\n
Leading party figures over the weekend were indifferent when
\nasked about a possible political compromise currently being
\nsolicited by House of Representatives Speaker and Golkar Party
\nChairman Akbar Tandjung.<\/p>\n
PDI Perjuangan legislator Taufik Kiemas, who is also the
\nhusband of party chairperson and Vice President Megawati
\nSoekarnoputri, said in Palembang, South Sumatra, that he would
\nnot share his thoughts on the matter.<\/p>\n
"Sorry, I do not know about the power sharing scheme. If Bang
\nAkbar was the one offering such a deal maybe you should ask him,"
\nTaufik said on Sunday.<\/p>\n
Megawati herself, who was with Taufik, remained tight-lipped
\nand merely smiled when journalists asked her to comment.<\/p>\n
The Vice President was in Palembang to visit state-owned
\nfertilizer factory PT Pupuk Sriwijaya and state-owned oil company
\nPertamina's refinery in Plaju, some eight kilometers from
\nPalembang.<\/p>\n
The idea of a political compromise rose to the fore as the
\nlegislature grew increasingly disgruntled with the leadership of
\nPresident Abdurrahman Wahid.<\/p>\n
Most legislators have expressed increasing skepticism at his
\nleadership following his reply to the House's memorandum of
\ncensure.<\/p>\n
The mood at the legislature seems to be heading for a second
\nand third memorandum thus raising the likelihood of a special
\nsession of the People's Consultative Assembly and presidential
\nimpeachment.<\/p>\n
Akbar last proposed such a compromise as a possible way out of
\nthe political deadlock. He suggested that a special session be
\nheld to hammer out an Assembly decree to regulate an increased
\nexecutive role for the Vice President.<\/p>\n
Constitution<\/p>\n
PDI Perjuangan Deputy Secretary General Pramono Anung told The
\nJakarta Post on Sunday that the party would accept a change in
\nthe 1945 Constitution to accommodate the power sharing idea
\nsimply for the benefit of short-term political interests.<\/p>\n
"We should never forget that sharing power between the
\npresident and vice president as the head of state and head of
\ngovernment would lead us to change the constitution as we've
\nnever acknowledged such a separation," Pramono reminded.<\/p>\n
He underlined that as an idea, it is acceptable to elaborate
\nthe power sharing idea, but nothing should be done to violate the
\nConstitution.<\/p>\n
Pramono said rather than a political compromise his party is
\nlikely to concentrate more on the government's spirit of reform
\nto eliminate corruption, collusion and nepotism.<\/p>\n
"So for the current political condition, we are still
\ndiscussing the President's answer before we take other steps. We
\nhave formed a team consisting of eight people to appraise the
\nPresident's answer," Pramono said.<\/p>\n
The government's position on the idea of a power sharing
\nscheme also remains somewhat unclear. On Saturday the President
\nrejected the idea saying that it would be an unconstitutional
\nmove.<\/p>\n
However, on Sunday, Minister of Defense Mahfud MD said that
\nAbdurrahman might accept the idea if the Assembly first amends
\nArticle 4 of the 1945 Constitution which states that the
\npresident is both head of state and head of government.<\/p>\n
Akbar when he proposed the idea last week stressed that it can
\nonly work if the President is willing to delegate his power for
\npolitical compromise.<\/p>\n
However, Akbar admitted that it was his personal idea and so
\nfar it had only received very limited response from House
\nfactions who currently seem more preoccupied in issuing the
\nsecond memorandum for the President over the two financial
\nscandals he is allegedly involved in.<\/p>\n
Golkar party faction chairman at the House Syamsul Muarif told
\nthe Post that his party had formed a team to appraise the
\nPresident's answer and would not give further comment over the
\nany possibility before appraising the answer.<\/p>\n
"We have to discuss the answer first before determining our
\nparty's stance over the matter," Syamsul said.<\/p>\n
The National Mandate Party (PAN) issued a political
\nrecommendation on Sunday, that all kinds of action to find
\na political solution in the country should be done according to
\nthe Constitution and involve all political power in the country.<\/p>\n
"All political decisions should be taken in a constitutional
\nmanner," PAN Secretary General told the Post after the meeting.<\/p>\n
He stressed that holding an Assembly special session to find a
\ncollective solution should be the main measure to end the
\npolitical crisis. (deja\/33)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/megawati-silent-on-compromise-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}