Gus Dur's 'harassment' of DPR may not be to his benefit

President Abdurrrahman Wahid has agreed to meet legislators on July 20, which has been read as a "maneuver" as it was one day before the legislature's recess -- which was finally rescheduled. Riswandha Imawan, a lecturer in political science at the Yogyakarta-based Gadjah Mada University, says that the ploy will backfire on the President.

Question: Why do you think President Abdurrahman Wahid (Gus Dur) picked July 20 as the day to answer the House of Representatives' interpellation motion?

Answer: It only shows us more clearly that the President is smarter at playing politics than managing the state. I don't think he picked the day without a reason. I don't believe it was an instinctive choice. Rather, it was because he knew full well that the House would have a recess the following day.

I see this as nothing but harassment by the executive of the legislative body. It proves that the President is more concerned with agendas which he thinks will improve his popularity.

What I see now is the President gathering mass support. He's creating a condition in which people will be angry should he have to face the dangers of an impeachment from the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR).

Q: What makes you think so?

A: A couple of days ago I heard on a local radio station that the President was asking the ulema not to be upset should something happen to him if he is "tried" by the House. I couldn't understand why he said that.

Answering an interpellation motion is not the same as being tried. But the President is creating the impression that he will be tried by the House, that he will be treated as a defendant.

(His statement) was provocative. When he says "please don't be upset", people read that as "please do be upset". The nation is quite fed up with these provocations uttered by the President.

Q: So what should the President do regarding the House's request to answer its interpellation motion?

A: If I were him, I would rush to the House well before (recess). It would be much more advantageous for him to go earlier. What is missing from our society is honesty. Remember, when he was elected president, people thought that as an ulema he would be honest. Therefore the stakes are high. It's not just the nation, but also his reputation as a kyai (Muslim teacher); is he honest enough?

Again, the choice of July 20 has a political calculation. He thinks the House won't have the time to answer to his response. But it seems he hasn't taken into consideration the annual General Session in August. He should remember that (the interpellation motion) has become a priority for House members.

It is therefore quite possible that they will use the recess period as much as possible to come up with a sharper strategy to be used in the annual session. They would then have more time to study the case and express dissatisfaction even more effectively in August.

If this is the case, Abdurrahman will be the party which suffers the most. He is just postponing the problem.

He should not be so sure (as he stated earlier) that 80 percent of the MPR members will support him. Six factions earlier stated their refusal of the postponement of the plenary session (to July 20) and 332 legislators support the motion ...

Q: Legislators and analysts have said the interpellation motion could not be used to topple the President. Why does Abdurrahman seem to worry so much about it?

A: It's true, there's nothing to worry about from the interpellation motion. It was proposed because there is an inconsistency in the President's statements regarding the reasons of the dismissal of Yusuf Kalla and Laksamana Sukardi from his Cabinet.

The motion would not have been there in the first place if it weren't for his inconsistency.

He should not forget that the Cabinet was formed in the way a legislative Cabinet is formed. So it's ridiculous to say that the motion is misplaced because dismissing Cabinet ministers is the President's prerogative.

In the context of Abdurrahman's Cabinet (the motion) is not misplaced, especially since members were selected through compromise and guaranteed by the political elite.

You should also remember that accusing Yusuf Kalla and Laksamana Sukardi of committing corruption, collusion and nepotism is not just embarrassing them but the political parties they belong to. And those accusations will surely have long-term consequences in the coming election.

Q: If it's true that Abdurrahman is a smart political player, why doesn't he use the plenary session to clarify the problem?

A: You're right, Abdurrahman is making a wrong move in this case. In fact, instead of clarifying the problem, the President is trying to shift it by continuing to make new statements.

He would be better off using the interpellation session to restore his good image. So I suggest he set an earlier date.

Q: As the President insists on having the session on July 20, what could happen in August?

A: There is no way he will be impeached. If the House is not satisfied with the President's answer, it has to send a memorandum to ask the MPR to hold a special session. Based on current regulations, it would be impossible to topple him in the near future. Next year would be the soonest, as six months is needed for the MPR to approve the House's proposal for a special session -- unless it is Abdurrahman who is responsible for his own fall from the presidency.

If he doesn't change the way he manages the nation he will certainly be paving the way to his own downfall; no one will have to unseat him. (Sri Wahyuni)