'VP is crown prince for presidency'<\/p>\n
By Asip Agus Hasani<\/p>\n
YOGYAKARTA (JP): The recent call for a broadening of the next
\nIndonesian vice president's role to ease the workload of
\nPresident Soeharto has received various responses. Political
\nprofessor Ichlasul Amal of the Gadjah Mada University examines
\nthe issue.<\/p>\n
Question: The call for the next vice president's greater role
\nwas linked to the incumbent President Soeharto's advancing age.
\nWhat do you think?<\/p>\n
Answer: In 1945, when we decided to adopt the presidential
\nsystem, it was believed that Mohammad Yamin (one of Indonesia's
\nprominent founding fathers) was adopting the United States
\nsystem. There -- though not exactly a case of being a spare tire
\n-- the vice presidents' role is not prominent. It's because a
\npresident and vice president are elected as one. They are
\nconsidered a unity, an institution. They have to work together.<\/p>\n
In Indonesia, that was also the case when Bung Karno and Bung
\nHatta were elected as (Indonesia's first) president and vice
\npresident. They were called dwi-tunggal (two but one).<\/p>\n
The president and vice president, therefore, are elected as a
\npackage. That's why the vice president's job description is never
\nclearly stated. It is (understood) based on common sense that a
\nvice president's job is representing the president either in
\nstate affairs or in simple protocol.<\/p>\n
Q: When Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad was abroad, his
\ndeputy Anwar Ibrahim took over the responsibility of the
\nposition...<\/p>\n
A: Malaysia applies a different parliamentary system from
\nIndonesia. In such a system, the prime minister is accountable to
\nthe parliament, which explains why he can be substituted by ad
\ninterim officials.<\/p>\n
In Indonesia, a president is a prime minister ex officio. His
\nor her position cannot be substituted by anybody else, including
\nthe vice president. That's why the vice president's task is fully
\ndecided by the president.<\/p>\n
Q: Is there really a need to give Indonesia's next vice president
\na greater role?<\/p>\n
A: Definitely. In the next period, as Juwono Sudarsono (the
\npolitical scientist who recently made the call for greater role
\nfor the next vice president and aired the assumption that
\nPresident Soeharto would be reelected to another term) said, the
\npresident is advancing in age.<\/p>\n
In addition, we are facing rapid development. The government's
\ntasks in the future will be more complicated. Juwono and others
\nhave seen that in the future, the position of the president
\nshould be substitutable.<\/p>\n
It'd be better, therefore, if the next vice president's task
\nwas clearly delineated... (there should be) a clear division
\nbetween the tasks of a president with those of the vice
\npresident.<\/p>\n
Q: Is it possible to have this role expanded through the People's
\nConsultative Assembly's ruling?<\/p>\n
A: If (the expansion) is done through an assembly decree, it
\nmight be misinterpreted that the president and vice president
\ncome from different factions. (This misinterpretation) could be
\ndangerous and may create conflict.<\/p>\n
It's better to keep the "one package" concept of a president
\nand vice president and let the president allocate tasks to the
\nvice president.<\/p>\n
A vice president is, however, sort of a crown prince who has
\nthe chance to become the next president. Just like Reagan and
\nBush, and now Clinton and Al Gore. In this case, it's very
\nimportant to limit the presidential term. Otherwise, the vice
\npresident position will never be strategic nor promise (an
\nimminent presidency).<\/p>\n
Q: Are you saying that vice presidents can also be seen as
\napprentice presidents?<\/p>\n
A: That's right. If we wish for a continued presidential
\ninstitution, it is the position of vice president that matters.
\nContinuity does not mean that the position should be held only by
\none person, but how that person can finish their entire term.<\/p>\n
Q: It seems that a law on presidential institution is needed.<\/p>\n
A: That's true, and the most important thing (that should be
\nregulated) is the limitation of the presidential term. Then,
\nthere should also be regulations on retired presidents. No one
\ntalks about it at the moment.<\/p>",
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