Old faces elected DPR, DPD speakers
Kurniawan Hari The Jakarta Post/Jakarta
Veteran politician Ginandjar Kartasasmita was elected as the inaugural speaker of the Regional Representatives Council (DPD), defeating Irman Gusman in a runoff on Friday.
Ginandjar, a former Golkar politician and People's Consultative Assembly deputy speaker, received 72 votes to defeat Irman by 18 votes.
Pre-race favorite Sarwono Kusumaatmadja finished third in the first round of voting and was eliminated. Both Sarwono and Ginandjar served as ministers in the Cabinet of former president Soeharto.
As of press time, members of the House of Representatives were counting ballots to elect a speaker and three deputy speakers.
The election of the House leaders cast doubt over the future of the so-called Nationhood Coalition, which includes the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), Golkar, the United Development Party (PPP) and the Prosperous Peace Party (PDS), after the PPP named its own candidate for the speaker's post. The party named veteran politician Endin Sofihara as its candidate for House speaker.
The coalition, which holds more than half of the House's 550 seats, had vowed to help senior politician Agung Laksono into the speaker's post, which was held by Golkar leader Akbar Tandjung in the previous House.
Golkar originally nominated Agung for the House speaker post, and Soetardjo Soerjogoeritno (PDI-P), Muhaimin Iskandar of the National Awakening Party (PKB) and Chozin Chumaidy (PPP) as his deputies. Soetardjo and Muhaimin are former deputy House speakers, while Chozin is a senior politician,
The party later replaced Chozin with newcomer Zainal Maarif from the Reform Star Party (PBR).
The PPP nominated Endin for the post of speaker, and E.E. Mangindaan from the Democratic Party (PD), Ahmad Farhan Hamid of the National Mandate Party (PAN) and Ali Masykur Musa (PKB) as his deputies. Mangindaan is a newcomer, while Farhan and Masykur are reelected lawmakers.
A source said the PPP's decision not to nominate Agung was prompted by anger over Golkar's failure to nominate Slamet Effendy Yusuf, a politician linked to Nahdlatul Ulama -- the main supporter of the PPP and the PKB.
PAN legislator Ahmad Farhan Hamid, however, said the nomination of Endin was simply an attempt at reconciliation.
Agung was backed by Golkar, the PDI-P, the Prosperous Peace Party (PDS) and the Reform Star Party (PBR), while Endin was nominated by the PPP, the Democratic Party, PAN, the PKB, the PKS, and the PBR.
Earlier in the day, the new members of the House and the DPD were sworn in during a ceremony overseen by Supreme Court Chief Justice Bagir Manan. President Megawati Soekarnoputri and Vice President Hamzah Haz also attended the ceremony.
While all 128 members of the DPD took the oath, three of the 550 House members missed the ceremony.
Golkar legislators Fahmi Idris and Marzuki Darusman were not present following their dismissal from their party. Anwar bin Marzuki of the United Development (PPP) was disqualified from serving in the House after being found guilty of using a fake diploma in the election.
During the first House plenary meeting, presided over by Agung Laksono of Golkar and Jacobus Mayong Padang of the PDI-P, it was agreed that 10 factions would be formed.
Under the House's new standing orders, each faction must have at least 13 members. The ruling prompted the Crescent Star Party (PBB), the National Democratic Unity Party (PPDK), the Pioneer Party, the Indonesian Democratic Vanguard Party (PPDI) and the Marhaen Indonesian National Party (PNI Marhaen) to join forces in the 20-member Democratic Pioneer Star faction. The faction is chaired by M.S. Kaban of the PBB.
The National Concern Functional Party (PKPB), which has two seats and campaigned as a party loyal to former president Soeharto, joined the Golkar faction.