Experts call for equal powers for DPR, DPD

Experts call for equal powers for DPR, DPD

Kurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Although the nation has officially adopted a bicameral
parliamentary system, the authority of the Regional
Representatives Council (DPD) is less powerful than that of the
House of Representatives (DPR).

Under the bill on the composition of the People's Consultative
Assembly (MPR), DPR, DPD and the Provincial and Regional
Legislative Bodies (DPRD), which the government plans to submit
later this month, DPD plays a peripheral role in terms of
legislation.

The bill, for example, states that DPD has the right to submit
bills to the House, especially those bills related to regional
autonomy, relations between the central and regional
administrations, establishment of new administrations, natural
resource management, and the fiscal balance.

DPD may also submit inputs to DPR regarding the state budget
and bills on taxation, education and religion. All inputs should
be submitted to DPR before it starts deliberations with
government officials.

Under such a hierarchical scheme, DPD's power and authority
would be much less than those of DPR.

Constitutional expert Harun Alrasyid on Tuesday called the new
system as "uncommon", and urged that it should be revised.

"That (bicameral) system must be revised in the future. It is
an abnormal system," Harun told The Jakarta Post here on Tuesday.

A joint session between DPR and DPD would create the MPR
which, under the new system, is no longer a permanent body.

The bicameral system, as legislators call it, gives an unequal
share of power to DPD and DPR, with DPR claiming a greater role
than DPD. Harun said that DPD and DPR must have equal power.

According to Harun, the system revealed that legislators were
unwilling to share power with their fellow legislators in DPD,
while also indicating that DPR wanted to maintain sole influence
over national politics.

Jimly Ashiddiqie, however, defended the system, calling the
new system a "soft bicameral system".

"This system is common in unitary states. While many
federalistic states adopt the pure bicameral system, unitary
states generally take to a soft bicameral system," Jimly told the
Post.

Jimly said that although DPD had a weaker role in legislation
than DPR, its role in supervising the government would be equal
to the DPR.

"DPD has the power to supervise the government in carrying out
policies related to regional issues," he added.

He called on the people not to be antipathetic towards the new
system, and suggested instead to monitor its application.
Meanwhile, he admitted that DPD would be more trustworthy than
DPR, because members of the DPD have no affiliation with
political parties.

Harun and Jimly agreed that the creation of the new system was
based more on political compromises than on an effort to set up a
comprehensive system.

The bill was drafted to replace extant Law No.4/1999, which
became void and null after the amendment of the 1945 Constitution
in August last year.

The draft law defines DPD as a regional representatives
council which strives for the aspiration and the interest of
regions. The draft also stipulates that the number of DPD members
will not exceed one-third the number of DPR members.