Yusril explains the difference between impeaching a vice-president and resignation

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Coordinating Minister for Legal Affairs, Human Rights, Immigration and Corrections Yusril Ihza Mahendra has explained the difference between the process for removing a vice-president through impeachment and one resulting from resignation.

He said the difference lay in the constitutional process and the state institutions involved in dealing with each situation.

In an impeachment process, the House of Representatives (DPR) is directly involved, whereas a vice-president’s resignation is handled through coordination mainly between the President and the People’s Consultative Assembly (MPR).

“The DPR may not be directly involved, except in impeachment. Impeachment does involve the DPR,” Yusril said at the Presidential Palace complex in Jakarta on Thursday.

The follow-up process falls within the MPR’s authority and the President’s obligation to fill the vacant vice-presidential post.

Yusril said the MPR would convene a meeting to declare the office vacant. The MPR leadership would then formally notify the President in writing.

After receiving the notification, the MPR would ask the President to submit two vice-presidential candidates for selection at an MPR session.

The mechanism is set out in Article 8(2) of the 1945 Constitution, which requires the selection to take place no later than 60 days after the office becomes vacant.

Yusril stressed that replacing a vice-president who has resigned differs from the succession that followed President Soeharto’s departure in 1998. When Soeharto left office, Vice-President B.J. Habibie automatically took over as president.

But if a vice-president resigns, no official automatically succeeds them. The vacancy must be filled through an election by the MPR.

He added that the replacement vice-president would not be chosen in a direct public election or through the General Elections Commission (KPU). The selection is conducted entirely by the MPR.