Experts call for power balance between DPD, DPR

Experts call for power balance between DPD, DPR

Kurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Constitutional experts criticized the limited power given to the
Regional Representatives Council (DPD), saying it will only
confuse the main purpose of the bicameral system.

They said the absence of a balance of power between the House
of Representatives (DPR) and the DPD reflected the country's
half-hearted support for the bicameral system.

"The DPD has been relegated to a weaker position than the DPR
or simply as an auxiliary body to the DPR. DPD is totally unfit
to represent the country's regions," Mukthie Fadjar of the
Brawijaya University (Unibraw) told a discussion here on Tuesday.

Fellow expert Solly Lubis from North Sumatra University (USU)
added that the bicameral system newly adopted by Indonesia
breached the common practice applied in countries where both
bodies, DPR and DPD, share equal power.

"DPD looks like another Regional Representatives Faction at
MPR (the People's Consultative Assembly)," Solly said, referring
to the faction at MPR whose members were elected by provincial
legislatures.

Both experts called on legislators and politicians to review
the status of the DPD and urged the endorsement of a law that
empowers the council.

Mukthie and Solly were commenting on articles in the amended
1945 Constitution and the bill on the composition of the
legislative bodies.

Articles in those legislations stipulate that members of the
DPD must not exceed one-third of the House members. On the bill
of the composition of the legislature, members of the House will
be raised to 550.

Some legislators propose that each of 31 provinces be
represented by four people in the DPD, with the total number of
DPD members reaching 124 people.

In terms of political power, DPD members will be defeated
anytime a motion is voted on.

DPD will have authority in legislation, budget discussion,
supervision of government policies and an advisory role in bill
deliberation by the DPR.

Despite the legislative power, DPD's role is limited to the
discussion of bills relating to regional autonomy and regional
resources management.

Meanwhile Sri Soemantri Martosoewignjo from Padjadjaran
University said he hoped the formation of DPD would not affect
national integrity.

Soemantri, who is a professor in constitutional law, suggested
that DPD articulate the aspirations of regions without
threatening the unitary state of Indonesia.

The bill on the composition of the legislative bodies, which
also regulates the existence of the DPD, has been submitted to
the House, but legislators have not began deliberation on it.

The bill, along with bills on elections, political parties,
and presidential elections, is a crucial legislation for the
upcoming elections in 2004.