Foreign leaders may attend Susilo's inauguration as president
Foreign leaders may attend Susilo's inauguration as president
Kurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
For the first time ever, the inauguration ceremony of an
Indonesian president may see foreign heads of state in
attendance.
People's Consultative Assembly Speaker Hidayat Nur Wahid said
on Wednesday at least three foreign leaders had expressed their
intention to attend the induction of president-elect Susilo
Bambang Yudhoyono and vice president-elect Jusuf Kalla during the
Oct. 20 plenary session of the Assembly.
"The head of government who has expressed his intention (to
attend) is Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi of Malaysia. The
embassies of Japan and Singapore have also conveyed similar
intentions," Hidayat told the press after a meeting of Assembly
leaders and State Secretariat officials to prepare for the
inauguration.
Also present at the meeting were Assembly deputy speakers A.M.
Fatwa, Mooryati Soedibyo and Moh. Aksa Mahmud.
The officials agreed to accommodate the intentions of the
foreign leaders, and formal invitations are to be sent out in the
next few days.
Aksa said outgoing President Megawati Soekarnoputri would also
be invited to the ceremony, but did not speculate on whether she
would accept.
As of today, Megawati has still not conceded defeat publicly
to her former security minister, although Susilo has indicated a
willingness to meet and ensure a smooth transition of government.
Aksa added that until the new president was sworn in, Megawati
would remain the acting President.
Although the inauguration ceremony takes place in a week,
Hidayat said Assembly members in charge of the event would
discuss its arrangement on Oct. 18 -- a day before its first
session opens.
Apart from witnessing the inauguration of Susilo and Kalla
during the Oct. 20 meeting, the Assembly may also discuss a
proposal from the 128-member Regional Representatives Council to
amend the Constitution to gain legislative standing on a par with
the House of Representatives.
The regional council was introduced this year as Indonesia
moved toward a bicameral representation system in light of
flagging public trust in political parties.
The council was set up in emulation of the United States
Senate, and while it has little legislative power, the council
can make suggestions to the House regarding the deliberation of
bills on the state budget and the regional administration; its
members are not directly involved in deliberations.
"Whether or not the Assembly will discuss constitutional
amendments will depend on motions from Assembly factions or the
council," Hidayat said on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, deputy speaker Fatwa said the council's demand
would spark a heated debate among House legislators.
He added that the Assembly might form an ad hoc committee to
discuss the proposal and follow up the work of the Constitutional
Commission, which assessed all constitutional amendments made
between 1999 and 2003.