Agung elected House speaker

Agung elected House speaker

Kurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post/Jakarta

Agung Laksono was elected as the House of Representatives speaker
on Saturday as doubt cast over the future of the so-called
Nationhood Coalition.

The senior Golkar politician garnered 280 votes to beat Endin
Sofihara of the United Development Party (PPP), who collected 257
votes in the lengthy election which finished over midnight. Four
lawmakers abstained, while six votes were declared invalid.

Earlier on Friday, veteran politician Ginandjar Kartasasmita
was elected as the inaugural speaker of the Regional
Representatives Council (DPD), defeating Irman Gusman in a
runoff.

Ginandjar, a former Golkar politician and People's
Consultative Assembly deputy speaker, received 72 votes to defeat
Irman by 18 votes.

Pre-race favorite Sarwono Kusumaatmadja finished third in the
first round of voting and was eliminated. Both Sarwono and
Ginandjar served as ministers in the Cabinet of former president
Soeharto.

The election of the House leaders cast doubt over the future
of the so-called Nationhood Coalition, which includes the
Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), Golkar, the
United Development Party (PPP) and the Prosperous Peace Party
(PDS), after the PPP named its own candidate for the speaker's
post.

The coalition, which holds more than half of the House's 550
seats, had vowed to help senior politician Agung Laksono into the
speaker's post, which was held by Golkar leader Akbar Tandjung in
the previous House.

Golkar originally nominated Agung for the House speaker post,
and Soetardjo Soerjogoeritno (PDI-P), Muhaimin Iskandar of the
National Awakening Party (PKB) and Chozin Chumaidy (PPP) as his
deputies. Soetardjo and Muhaimin are former deputy House
speakers, while Chozin is a senior politician,

The party later replaced Chozin with newcomer Zainal Maarif
from the Reform Star Party (PBR).

Muhaimin's nomination by the coalition was approved by the
PKB, which also supported Endin's bid.

The PPP nominated Endin for the post of speaker, and E.E.
Mangindaan from the Democratic Party (PD), Ahmad Farhan Hamid of
the National Mandate Party (PAN) and Ali Masykur Musa (PKB) as
his deputies. Mangindaan is a newcomer, while Farhan and Masykur
are reelected lawmakers.

A source said the PPP's decision not to nominate Agung was
prompted by anger over Golkar's failure to nominate Slamet
Effendy Yusuf, a politician linked to Nahdlatul Ulama -- the main
supporter of the PPP and the PKB.

PAN legislator Ahmad Farhan Hamid, however, said the
nomination of Endin was simply an attempt at reconciliation.

Agung was backed by Golkar, the PDI-P, the Prosperous Peace
Party (PDS) and the Reform Star Party (PBR), while Endin was
nominated by the PPP, the Democratic Party, PAN, the PKB, the
PKS, and the PBR.

Earlier in the day, the new members of the House and the DPD
were sworn in during a ceremony overseen by Supreme Court Chief
Justice Bagir Manan. President Megawati Soekarnoputri and Vice
President Hamzah Haz also attended the ceremony.

While all 128 members of the DPD took the oath, three of the
550 House members missed the ceremony.

Golkar legislators Fahmi Idris and Marzuki Darusman were not
present following their dismissal from their party. Anwar bin
Marzuki of the United Development (PPP) was disqualified from
serving in the House after being found guilty of using a fake
diploma in the election.

During the first House plenary meeting, presided over by Agung
Laksono of Golkar and Jacobus Mayong Padang of the PDI-P, it was
agreed that 10 factions would be formed.

Under the House's new standing orders, each faction must have
at least 13 members. The ruling prompted the Crescent Star Party
(PBB), the National Democratic Unity Party (PPDK), the Pioneer
Party, the Indonesian Democratic Vanguard Party (PPDI) and the
Marhaen Indonesian National Party (PNI Marhaen) to join forces in
the 20-member Democratic Pioneer Star faction. The faction is
chaired by M.S. Kaban of the PBB.

The National Concern Functional Party (PKPB), which has two
seats and campaigned as a party loyal to former president
Soeharto, joined the Golkar faction.