Bagir Manan sworn in as Chief Justice

Bagir Manan sworn in as Chief Justice

JAKARTA (JP): President Abdurrahman Wahid swore in constitutional law expert Bagir Manan on Friday as the country's new chief justice.

The ceremony at the State Palace was just a mere formality as the President had announced Bagir's appointment to the post on May 5.

The swearing-in ceremony for Bagir officially ended months of stalemate following the President's refusal late last year to choose between Bagir and former justice minister Muladi, who were both nominated by the House of Representatives (DPR).

Abdurrahman at the time called on the House to make a new selection, but the demand was immediately rejected by House Speaker Akbar Tandjung.

Bagir, who has said earlier that "a house clean-up" would be among his top priorities, said that the Supreme Court will examine demands that the Golkar Party be disbanded because of corruption and vote-rigging.

Speaking to reporters after the ceremony Bagir said he had already set up a panel to examine whether Golkar - which is the second largest party at the House and is leading the charge against Wahid - should be disbanded.

"We have to respond to societal demands," Bagir said. "We have begun discussions on the matter."

Demands for the dissolution of Golkar have increased since the 1999 elections. Many smaller parties and anti-corruption groups have accused it of violating election laws, rigging the ballot, and buying votes.

Golkar was set up by the military in 1964. It was then used as a political vehicle by former president Soeharto to rule for 32 years.

Present on Friday were Akbar, Coordinating Minister for the Economy Rizal Ramli and Attorney General Marzuki Darusman.

Coordinating Minister for Political, Social and Security Affairs Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, Minister of Defense Mahfud M.D. and three Armed Forces' Chiefs of staff were absent as well as Vice President Megawati Soekarnoputri, who left Jakarta on Friday morning for a private one-day visit to Singapore, where she was scheduled to have a medical examination. (byg)