Jokowi’s agenda safe as Setya returns MargueriteAfra Sapiie The JakartaPost Jakarta |Sat, December 17, 2016 | 09:29 am It was a meeting in whicheveryone involved could score political points. For President Joko “Jokowi”Widodo the meeting would prove that he once again had full control of the Houseof Representatives. For House Speaker Setya Novanto, themeeting was a signal that he was back in the game after months in the politicalwilderness following a coup that resulted in the Golkar Party chairman losingthe speakership to his junior Ade Komarudin. As for deputy House speakers FadliZon of the Gerindra Party and Fahri Hamzah of the Prosperous Justice Party(PKS), the meeting with President Jokowi marked a rewarming of theirrelationship especially after the decision by the two politicians to join theNov. 4 street rally demanding the prosecution of Jakarta Governor Basuki “Ahok”Tjahaja Purnama, who is backed by Jokowi for reelection next year. Setya, who described the 90-minutemeeting as “friendly and cordial” said it was the start of a close relationshipbetween the executive and legislative branches of the government. He said theHouse leadership would engage in more consultation with the President and thatthe legislative body was committed to supporting all government programs. “We’ll also tell the leaders of thepolitical party factions at the House, and we’ll continue trying to get themcloser to the government to discuss political issues together,” Setya toldjournalists after the meeting. Setya, whose political career hitrock bottom following a scandal involving giant mining firm PT FreeportIndonesia that forced him to resign as House leader, reclaimed his position asHouse speaker, replacing Ade, in late November. Analysts have said the removal ofAde was part of a systematic effort by the President to control the Housethrough Setya, who now ranks as one of the country’s most powerful politicians,as Jokowi’s closest ally. Ade was regarded as unreliable byJokowi, whose agenda in the House stalled reportedly because of Ade’s failureto rally support for it. In June, the tax amnesty bill wasrushed through in a House plenary session despite Jokowi’s political party theIndonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) seeking to extend deliberationof the bill. The Golkar faction, then led by Ade,pressed for the immediate endorsement of the bill into law and won support fromother political factions. Ade was also blamed for failing toprevent Muslim-based political parties in the ruling coalition, the UnitedDevelopment Party (PPP), the National Mandate Party (PAN), and the NationalAwakening Party (PKB), from joining the Nov. 4 rally. He specifically failed to warn Fadliand Fahri against joining the rally. Two weeks after the rally, on Nov.17, Jokowi invited Setya for a meeting at the State Palace.Six days later, the Golkar Party’scentral board decided to reinstate Setya as House speaker. On Nov. 30, Setyawas inaugurated as the new House speaker, ousting Ade. Analysts have said that underSetya’s leadership, Golkar, the last political party to join the governmentcoalition, appears to have gained more influence over Jokowi than the PDI-P. In the past few months, the PDI-Phas made moves to counterbalance Setya’s growing clout by demanding anamendment to the Legislative Institutions Law, known as the MD3 Law, whichwould allow the party to get a top seat in the House. Setya has responded to the demand byallowing the deliberation of the MD3 amendment proposal to allow the PDI-P toget a deputy speakership position. The House is currently waiting for apresidential letter to start deliberating the bill.
[GELORA45] Jokowi’s agenda safe as Setya returns
ajeg [email protected] [GELORA45] Mon, 19 Dec 2016 09:01:55 -0800
