One of my favourite subjects
When I was in Singapore, Indonesian politics is something followed closely.
In hindsight, Habibie should have had longer term. What do you think?
BTW, can you explain to me how parliament changed the constitution for this matter? Was it direct article change? Or its done through amendment?
It involved a vote I would imagine, so its simple 50% majority for it or something like 2/3rd or 3/4th vote needed given constitution is very high threshold of change.
I agree that direct executive election is best way depending on the executive's exclusive powers.
Yup, Habibie should become our President at least for 10 years but this is only a dream of Indonesian intellectual base group. He is an Islamist and could be said as a leader of Islamist in Indonesia during Soeharto regime period. He established ICMI, an elite Islamist group who become quite powerful since 1990. Many nationalist leaders (PDI-P) could be seen as doesnt like him to continue the power, particularly during crucial period of 1999-2004 where many constitutional changes happened.
He could be a President if we have a direct Presidential election in 1999 though, considering he is also very popular within our grass root community. His Golkar party is not as popular as PDI-P although still can be number two at 1999 parliament election. During 1999-2004, elites are more powerful than common people due to parliament system that we have adopted since 1955 (1959-1999 is entirely a dictatorial regime though, but the written system is still parliamentary although we name PM as President).
During 1998-1999, Habibie just wanted to lead the transformation of Indonesia and decide not to set up new political party or use Golkar as vehicle to continue his power post 1999 parliament election. It is necessary to bring stability and both people and elites (Islamist, Nationalist Religious, Nationalist Secular, Military) support during crucial 1998-1999 period where demonstration from the leftish student (FORKOT) tried to sabotage the reformation movement due to fear of Islamist possible raising power post 1999 election.
I would say Indonesian prominent leaders are wise enough to not against nation long term interest. This is true during Soekarno fall down and Soeharto fall down since the leaders, AlhamduliLLAH, always follow the will of the people. Both Soekarno and Soeharto would be difficult to topple during their regimes if leaders at lower levels of our political power like parliament and cabinet dont go against them.
The reason of Soeharto resigning is due to the earlier resigns of many of his important ministers and also parliament members support for student movements despite both people in that two institutions are elected by Soeharto with Golkar as the main power in both administration and parliament. Golkar is also a main political backing of Soeharto since the start of new order together with Armed Force (mainly Army).
Something like this is quite rare in Arab nations (except in Tunisia) where their leaders prefer to bomb and kills their own population and destroy the economy and infrastructure in order for them to stay in power. Current politics also suggest similar tendency with the willingness of Prabowo to be Jokowi defense minister in order to make more stable government and conducive political situation.
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Yup, I think it needs about 60-70 percent MPR support (parliament members + some civilians representative) to change constitution. The changes can be successful IMO is due to the influence of intellectuals and the political atmosphere at that time to have new democratic Indonesia.
Here you can see in more detail. I take it from Wiki page :
Constitutional amendments
Suharto, who officially became president in 1968, refused to countenance any changes to the Constitution despite the fact that even Sukarno had viewed it as a provisional document.
[6] In 1983, the
People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) passed a decree stipulating the need for a nationwide referendum to be held before any amendments were made to the Constitution. This led to a 1985 law requiring such a referendum to have a 90% turnout and for any changes to be approved by a 90% vote. Then in 1997, the activist Sri Bintang Pamungkas and two colleagues were arrested and jailed for publishing a proposed modified version of the 1945 Constitution.
[7]
With the fall of Suharto and the
New Order regime in 1998, the 1983 decree and 1985 law were rescinded and the way was clear to amend the Constitution to make it more democratic. This was done in four stages at sessions of the MPR in 1999, 2000, 2001 and 2002. As a result, the original Constitution has grown from 37 articles to 73, of which only 11% remain unchanged from the original constitution.
[8]
The most important of the changes were:
[9][10]
- Limiting presidents to two terms of office
- Establishing a Regional Representative Council (DPD), which together with the DPR makes up an entirely elected MPR.
- Purifying and empowering presidential system of government, instead of a semi presidential one.
- Stipulating democratic, direct elections for the president, instead of the president being elected by the MPR
- Reorganizing the mechanism of horizontal relation among state organs, instead of giving the highest constitutional position to the People's Assembly.
- Abolishing the Supreme Advisory Council[11]
- Mandating direct, general, free, secret, honest, and fair elections for the House of Representatives and regional legislatures
- Establishing a Constitutional Court for guarding and defending the constitutional system as set forth in the constitution.
- Establishing a Judicial Commission
- The addition of ten entirely new articles concerning human rights.
Among the above changes, the establishment of Constitutional Court is regarded as a successful innovation in Indonesia constitutional system. The court was established in 2003 by 9 justices head by Professor
Jimly Asshiddiqie,a prominent scholar from the University of Indonesia. There are five jurisdictions of the court, i.e. (i) constitutional review of law, (ii) disputes of constitutional jurisdiction between state institutions, (iii) disputes on electoral results, (iv) dissolution of political parties, and (v) impeachment of the president/vice-president. The other icon of success in Indonesian reform is the establishment of the Corruption Eradication Commission which independently fights against corruption and grafts. Corruption in Indonesia is regarded an extraordinary crime.
en.wikipedia.org
en.antaranews.com
www.cnbcindonesia.com
m.cnnindonesia.com
