Gus Dur wants Mega to function as PM

Gus Dur wants Mega to function as PM

JAKARTA (JP): President Abdurrahman Wahid emphasized on
Wednesday his determination to give Vice President Megawati
Soekarnoputri a significant role in government and even likened
her role to that of a prime minister.

Speaking to journalists after chairing a Cabinet meeting at
Bina Graha presidential office, Abdurrahman said Megawati was
constantly involved in the decision making process.

Abdurrahman stressed that he also conveyed his wish for
Megawati's involvement directly to the Cabinet so there would be
no apprehension from the ministers.

"I need to emphasize here that in the Cabinet, I pointed out
that Vice President Megawati also functions as prime minister, I
say again she also acts (as prime minister)," Abdurrahman
asserted.

Abdurrahman, popularly known as Gus Dur, said his remarks were
also a reaction to suggestions from several legislators of the
need for him to appoint a prime minister.

Abdurrahman conceded that due to his failing eyesight,
Megawati practically leads most of Cabinet meetings already.

"She asks and raise issues directly with the ministers during
the Cabinet meeting. You know why? Because as you yourself know,
I cannot see, therefore I do not know much about details," the
President said.

Since their election in October, Abdurrahman has made it clear
that he would stray from tradition and empower the Vice President
with more responsibility rather than just being a figurehead.

The rapport between the president and vice president
undoubtedly stems from the affinity between Abdurrahman and
Megawati nurtured over the years.

On Friday, Abdurrahman even went so far as to suggest that
Megawati should have been the one seated as president as her
party, the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle, won the most
votes in the general election.

Abdurrahman said it was only by a quirk of fate and the
insistence of People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) speaker Amien
Rais that he became president.

"I was lucky with Mas Amien otherwise I would never have
become president," he joked.

But it is unclear whether Abdurrahman's reference to Megawati
as a prime minister holds any legal basis or is a mere outburst
of compassion for his deputy.

As stipulated in Article 17 of the 1945 Constitution,
Indonesia officially adheres to a presidential system. This means
that it does not recognize a prime minister. But there is a
historic precedence for such a breach.

From November 1945 to December 1949 Sukarno, Megawati's
father, appointed several prime ministers whose Cabinets were
responsible directly to the President.

From January 1948 to December 1949, for example, Indonesia's
first Vice President Mohammad Hatta served as vice president and
prime minister.

From 1950 to July 1959 Indonesia's government was effectively
a parliamentary system as there was a prime minister which was
accountable to the House of Representatives.

On July 6, Sukarno dissolved the system. Until February 1960
Sukarno doubled as prime minister.

Recognizing that his comments would likely spark debate on the
Constitutional validity of a prime minister, Abdurrahman quickly
remarked that people should not get into a legal wrangle over it.

"I don't think we need special regulations (on the PM issue),
because it is only a matter of a job description between the two
of us," said the President. (prb)