Susilo's resignation remarks provoke debate

Susilo's resignation remarks provoke debate

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta/Surabaya

Debates have emerged on whether a minister aspiring to be
president should resign before his term, in the absence of a
ruling on the matter. The discourse emerged following a statement
from Coordinating Minister for Politics and Security Susilo
Bambang Yudhoyono, who said he would resign at the latest in
April.

Susilo, who is nominated by the Democratic Party, is among
several aspiring presidential candidates.

"It wouldn't be ethical for me, the President's subordinate,
to compete with the president," he said on Thursday in Surabaya.
He repeated his intention to resign on Friday.

Constitutional law expert Sri Soemantri hailed Susilo's
statement.

"It shows he (Susilo) has political ethics. Others should
follow him," he told The Jakarta Post.

Another expert, Harun Alrasyid, said given the absence of a
ruling it would depend on individual presidential candidates in
the Cabinet on whether they would resign.

The Law No.23/2003 on the direct presidential election says
that the nomination of presidential candidates must be made
within seven days after the announcement of the result of the
general election. The Law No.12/2003 on general elections says
the results must be made public no later than 30 days after the
voting day of April 5 this year.

"Today I will focus on my job (as a minister), because the
period of presidential nomination has not yet arrived," Susilo
said Friday.

Separately, Justice and Human Rights Minister Yusril Ihza
Mahendra, who is also the chairman of the Crescent Star Party
(PBB), stated on Friday that he would not resign from the Cabinet
ministry despite being nominated by his party as a presidential
candidate.

"We'll see after the legislative election (in April). All
figures (from) all parties will see whether they have strong
support (from voters), so they can decide whether to stay in the
cabinet," he said.

Indonesia will hold its first-ever direct presidential
elections this year. The presidential election will be on July 5
and the run-off on Sept. 20.

The presidential election will follow the general election on
April 5 to elect legislators, who are nominated by 24 political
parties which will participate in this year's elections.

Yusril argued that it was possible for cabinet ministers to
become presidential nominees as Indonesia deploys a government
system which is run by a coalition cabinet under the president.

"They originate from different parties (from the president)
so, actually, they have the right to do so," he said, referring
to cabinet ministers who are also presidential aspirants.

He remarked that the debate on whether a cabinet minister
should resign if he was nominated as a presidential hopeful had
nothing to do with ethics.

"Some people use the ethics issue in this case for their
political interests," he said.

"If pak Kwik (Kian Gie) or Laksamana Sukardi, who are from the
same party (as the president), competed in the presidential
elections that would be not ethical. But if the nominees come
from other parties, it's just fine," Yusril said.

He was referring to two ministers who are also members of the
Indonesia Democratic Party for Struggle (PDI-P) chaired by
President Megawati.

Apart from Yusril, several cabinet ministers and the vice
president are currently eying the presidency.

Vice president Hamzah Haz, chairman of the United Development
Party (PPP), has been nominated as the party's presidential
candidate. Coordinating Minister of People' Welfare Jusuf Kalla
has been named one of several presidential nominees from the
Golkar Party.