Big parties want to reduce DPD's role

Big parties want to reduce DPD's role

BALIKPAPAN, East Kalimantan: The six biggest political parties
in the House of Representatives have agreed to reduce the number
of provincial representatives and increase the number of House
members to be elected in the upcoming general election.

According to the secretary-general of the Golkar Party, Budi
Harsono, the number of provincial representatives would be
reduced from the initial target of four people per province to
only three.

Meanwhile, the number of House members would be increased from
the planned 550 to between 600 and 700 legislators.

"Based on the third and fourth amendments to the 1945
Constitution, the duties of the Provincial Representatives'
Council (DPD) are very light, and their legislative functions and
tasks are still vague. We are afraid it would only create another
problem if too many were elected," he said.

The six biggest political parties that have agreed on the
proposed reduction in DPD membership are the Indonesian
Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan), the Golkar Party,
the United Development Party (PPP), the National Awakening Party
(PKB), the National Mandate Party (PAN), and the Crescent Star
Party (PBB). -- Antara