Megawati's new role
Megawati's new role
With events unfolding in the ongoing Annual Session of the
People's Consultative Assembly (MPR), millions of Indonesian
voters will shortly see at least part of one of their wishes come
true: Vice President Megawati Soekarnoputri, whose Indonesian
Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) won the most votes
in the last general election, will assume responsibility for the
day-to-day management of the government.
Thus, Megawati, who in last year's presidential election in
the Assembly was outmaneuvered in political dealings by
Abdurrahman Wahid, founder of the minority National Awakening
Party (PKB), will at least get some of the rights she, in the
eyes of her supporters, is entitled to.
On Wednesday, in a move that some observers see as proof of
statesmanship on the part of the President, and many others see
as a shrewd political maneuver to save whatever he can of his
powers as well as to avoid a bitter confrontation with the
People's Consultative Assembly (MPR), the embattled Indonesian
President told the Assembly he had decided to assign the day-to-
day management of his administration to his Vice President.
Under the arrangement he proposed, President Abdurrahman "Gus
Dur" Wahid would continue to manage foreign affairs, while the
Vice President would be in charge of carrying out the "technical
details" of running the administration, preparing the Cabinet's
working agenda and determining the priorities and focus of the
government. For this, the Vice President will be responsible not
to the Assembly, but to the President, and report to him
"periodically or whenever it is necessary".
The President's announcement was greeted by wide applause from
the floor. It remains consistent with the presidential system of
government as enunciated by the Constitution while accommodating
demands voiced in the Assembly for a separation of the functions
of head of state and head of government, considering the ailing
President's limitations. It also reflects the President's
willingness to admit his personal shortcomings and act to correct
them -- in other words to put the nation before his own personal
interests. The financial market and the stock market also reacted
positively.
On the face of it, Gus Dur's proposed delegation of tasks to
the Vice President settles the debate in the MPR over the kind of
measures that should be taken to overcome the President's
ineptitudes, whether real or presumed. There are, however, a
number of pitfalls that Megawati and her supporters in the
Assembly would do well to heed if the arrangement is to work,
both for Megawati and for the nation.
For one thing, if the Vice President is to take responsibility
for the performance of Cabinet ministers, she must have a say in
their selection. Unless she is at least consulted about their
selection and her approval is sought, it is difficult to see how
the Vice President can be held responsible for their performance,
or even how good coordination can be assured. For another, the
reach of her authority and responsibilities should be clearly
delineated.
As for those who doubt Megawati's ability to run the
government, the only sensible advice we can give is to allow the
Vice President a chance to prove herself. The President's
decision to share his responsibilities with the Vice President is
a good first step toward improving the government's performance.