Dasco Says Prabowo Will Be First President to Attend DPR Plenary Session Tomorrow

Wakil Ketua DPR, Sufmi Dasco Ahmad mengatakan Presiden RI Prabowo Subianto disebut akan menjadi presiden pertama yang bakal menyampaikan langsung Kerangka Ekonomi Makro (KEM) dan Pokok-Pokok Kebijakan Fiskal (PPKF) di paripurna DPR Rabu (20/5) besok. According to Dasco, the previous presidents have been represented in the DPR plenary by their ministers. ‘Saya baru cek tadi, mungkin ini baru pertama kali ya,’ said Dasco to reporters as he inspected the plenary chamber in the Parliament complex, Jakarta, Tuesday (19/5). In constitutional practice, Dasco said there is actually no rule requiring the President to attend the DPR plenary in person; the President can be represented by his ministers. However, there is also no prohibition on the President attending in person and delivering a speech. When asked further, Dasco did not reveal the reasons for President Prabowo’s desire to attend in person tomorrow. ‘Alasannya, jangan tanya saya,’ said Dasco, who is also known as the acting chairman of Gerindra—the party led by Prabowo as Chairman General and Chairman of the Supervisory Board. The attendance of Prabowo at tomorrow’s plenary has been confirmed by Deputy Speaker Saan Mustopa. According to Saan, Prabowo will deliver the macroeconomic framework and the key policies of the RAPBN 2027. The plenary session is scheduled to begin at 09:00 WIB. Prabowo will give a 45-minute speech, in which he is expected to set out the macroeconomic framework and the main policies of the RAPBN 2027. In addition to the presidential speech, the plenary will also designate the RUU Polri as an initiative of DPR Commission III. Saan said the in-person appearance will be a first; previously, presidents attended only the annual session held ahead of Indonesia’s Independence Day on 17 August. ‘As far as I know, yes, it’s a first,’ said Saan, a NasDem politician. The president’s presence at the parliamentary building is traditionally renewed each year ahead of Independence Day in August; the ceremony typically takes place on 16 August, when the president delivers the State of the Nation Address at the Annual Session of the MPR and the Joint Session of the DPR and the DPD. In that session, the president outlines the performance of state institutions and delivers a speech related to the Independence Day celebrations. Additionally, on the same day and in the same venue, the president also delivers the introductory speech for the APBN bill for the following year along with its financial notes. The president also attends on inauguration day.