Susilo ally wins MPR chair by a hairbreadth

Susilo ally wins MPR chair by a hairbreadth

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The coalition supporting Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono won the
People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) leadership election on
Wednesday, allaying fears of hostile maneuvers by political
opponents against Susilo's presidency.

Hidayat Nurwahid, nominated by pro-Susilo People's Coalition,
snatched the Assembly speakership in a hair-splitting race
against Sutjipto of the Nationhood Coalition. Hidayat, who is
chairman of the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS), grabbed 326
votes, compared to Sutjipto's 324 votes.

For the Nationhood Coalition, the defeat was truly a bitter
one as it was partly due to the absence of two lawmakers from
Sutjipto's own Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) --
Tumbu Saraswati and Philip S. Widjaja.

Tumbu has reportedly been hospitalized, while Philip skipped
the plenary meeting with the knowledge of one party leader.

Elected as Hidayat's deputies were A.M. Fatwa of the National
Mandate Party (PAN) and two members of the 128-strong Regional
Representatives Council (DPD) -- Moeryati Soedibyo and M. Aksa
Mahmud.

Aside from PKS and PAN, the People's Coalition also consists
of the Democratic Party (PD), the National Awakening Party (PKB),
and the United Development Party (PPP).

The Nationhood Coalition, on the other hand, consists of PDI-
P, Golkar and the Prosperous Peace Party (PDS). During the
meeting, two small parties -- the Reform Star Party (PBR) and the
Concern for the Nation Functional Party (PKPB) -- also sided with
the coalition, which fielded Sutjipto as Assembly speaker and
Theo L. Sambuaga of Golkar and DPD members Sarwono Kusumaatmadja
and Aida Ismeth as deputies.

Abstention and invalid votes were 13 and 10 respectively.

The People's Coalition victory came as a surprise, as the
grouping lost the House of Representatives (DPR) leadership
election last Saturday morning.

The People's Coalition, which fielded PPP politician Endin
A.J. Soefihara, got only 257 votes, while the Nationhood
Coalition, which nominated Agung Laksono, bagged 280 votes.

Agung's victory had raised concerns that the Nationhood
Coalition was out to undermine, or even to eventually impeach,
Susilo, a retired Army general who will be the country's first
directly elected president since independence in 1945.

Any impeachment petition, however, would have to pass through
the Assembly before being submitted to the Constitutional Court,
which has the final say.

With the election of pro-Susilo lawmakers as leaders, any move
to impeach Susilo is likely to be thwarted by the Assembly, the
country's highest legislative body.

Legislator Ryaas Rasyid of the National Democratic Unity Party
(PPDK) said the election of Hidayat could help counter political
moves aimed at attacking Susilo.

"The position of Susilo and running mate Jusuf Kalla is
becoming more secure. Political maneuvers aimed at attacking them
can be countered," Ryaas said.

Following amendments to the 1945 Constitution, the Assembly's
authority has been reduced to just three duties -- amending the
Constitution, conducting any impeachment procedures against the
president and inaugurating elected presidents and vice
presidents.

The Assembly will inaugurate Susilo and Kalla in a plenary
session scheduled for Oct. 20.

In his first speech after being inaugurated Assembly speaker,
Hidayat appealed to all Assembly leaders to work hand-in-hand to
boost the Assembly's performance.

"Only with intensive cooperation will we be able to develop
the legislative body," Hidayat said.