Susilo ally wins MPR chair by a hairbreadth<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The coalition supporting Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono won the
\nPeople's Consultative Assembly (MPR) leadership election on
\nWednesday, allaying fears of hostile maneuvers by political
\nopponents against Susilo's presidency.<\/p>\n
Hidayat Nurwahid, nominated by pro-Susilo People's Coalition,
\nsnatched the Assembly speakership in a hair-splitting race
\nagainst Sutjipto of the Nationhood Coalition. Hidayat, who is
\nchairman of the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS), grabbed 326
\nvotes, compared to Sutjipto's 324 votes.<\/p>\n
For the Nationhood Coalition, the defeat was truly a bitter
\none as it was partly due to the absence of two lawmakers from
\nSutjipto's own Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) --
\nTumbu Saraswati and Philip S. Widjaja.<\/p>\n
Tumbu has reportedly been hospitalized, while Philip skipped
\nthe plenary meeting with the knowledge of one party leader.<\/p>\n
Elected as Hidayat's deputies were A.M. Fatwa of the National
\nMandate Party (PAN) and two members of the 128-strong Regional
\nRepresentatives Council (DPD) -- Moeryati Soedibyo and M. Aksa
\nMahmud.<\/p>\n
Aside from PKS and PAN, the People's Coalition also consists
\nof the Democratic Party (PD), the National Awakening Party (PKB),
\nand the United Development Party (PPP).<\/p>\n
The Nationhood Coalition, on the other hand, consists of PDI-
\nP, Golkar and the Prosperous Peace Party (PDS). During the
\nmeeting, two small parties -- the Reform Star Party (PBR) and the
\nConcern for the Nation Functional Party (PKPB) -- also sided with
\nthe coalition, which fielded Sutjipto as Assembly speaker and
\nTheo L. Sambuaga of Golkar and DPD members Sarwono Kusumaatmadja
\nand Aida Ismeth as deputies.<\/p>\n
Abstention and invalid votes were 13 and 10 respectively.<\/p>\n
The People's Coalition victory came as a surprise, as the
\ngrouping lost the House of Representatives (DPR) leadership
\nelection last Saturday morning.<\/p>\n
The People's Coalition, which fielded PPP politician Endin
\nA.J. Soefihara, got only 257 votes, while the Nationhood
\nCoalition, which nominated Agung Laksono, bagged 280 votes.<\/p>\n
Agung's victory had raised concerns that the Nationhood
\nCoalition was out to undermine, or even to eventually impeach,
\nSusilo, a retired Army general who will be the country's first
\ndirectly elected president since independence in 1945.<\/p>\n
Any impeachment petition, however, would have to pass through
\nthe Assembly before being submitted to the Constitutional Court,
\nwhich has the final say.<\/p>\n
With the election of pro-Susilo lawmakers as leaders, any move
\nto impeach Susilo is likely to be thwarted by the Assembly, the
\ncountry's highest legislative body.<\/p>\n
Legislator Ryaas Rasyid of the National Democratic Unity Party
\n(PPDK) said the election of Hidayat could help counter political
\nmoves aimed at attacking Susilo.<\/p>\n
\"The position of Susilo and running mate Jusuf Kalla is
\nbecoming more secure. Political maneuvers aimed at attacking them
\ncan be countered,\" Ryaas said.<\/p>\n
Following amendments to the 1945 Constitution, the Assembly's
\nauthority has been reduced to just three duties -- amending the
\nConstitution, conducting any impeachment procedures against the
\npresident and inaugurating elected presidents and vice
\npresidents.<\/p>\n
The Assembly will inaugurate Susilo and Kalla in a plenary
\nsession scheduled for Oct. 20.<\/p>\n
In his first speech after being inaugurated Assembly speaker,
\nHidayat appealed to all Assembly leaders to work hand-in-hand to
\nboost the Assembly's performance.<\/p>\n
\"Only with intensive cooperation will we be able to develop
\nthe legislative body,\" Hidayat said.<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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