Parliament Holds Plenary Session to Open Sitting Period, 287 Lawmakers Absent

The Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI) held the 18th plenary session to open the fifth sitting period of 2025-2026 after a one-month recess since 22 April, on Tuesday (12/5). The plenary session was chaired by DPR Speaker Puan Maharani and attended by 292 out of 579 DPR members, with 287 members absent. “According to records from the DPR RI General Secretariat, the attendance list at the start of today’s DPR plenary session has been signed by 292 members from all factions,” Puan said at the opening of the session. Nevertheless, the plenary was declared to have met the quorum because it was attended by more than 50 percent of members. According to Puan, the fifth sitting period will last approximately two months from 12 May to 21 July. During that period, the DPR will address several issues and legislative programmes, one of which concerns the impact of global pressures on the national economy, such as the rise in fuel prices (BBM). “We are facing pressures on the rupiah exchange rate, increases in energy and fuel prices, rising logistics and distribution costs, and pressures on national energy resilience due to disruptions in the global supply chain,” Puan said. She also expressed condolences for the victims of the train accident at Bekasi Timur Station and the bus accident on the Trans-Sumatra route in Musi Rawas Utara, South Sumatra. Puan also conveyed condolences for the fallen TNI soldier in Lebanon while carrying out a UN peacekeeping mission, Private Rico Pramudia. This included condolences for the death of Republic of Indonesia Supreme Audit Agency (BPK RI) member Haerul Saleh, who passed away in a fire at his residence on Friday (8/5). “The DPR RI expresses the highest respect and appreciation for the sacrifices of the nation’s best sons in carrying out noble duties as guardians of world peace,” she stated.