(Jakarta) — Following the resignation of Indonesian Vice-President Gibran Rakabuming Raka, Indonesia’s People’s Consultative Assembly (MPR) is accelerating the process of choosing his successor, aiming to elect a new vice-president before 4 December.
The Jakarta Globe reported that MPR Deputy Speaker Bambang Wuryanto said on Friday (13 November) that although the constitution allows 60 days to fill the vice-presidential vacancy, the government and the MPR hoped to complete the process sooner.
He said: “Based on our discussions [with the government], the timeframe is approximately between 23 November and 4 December.”
Bambang Wuryanto said the arrangement also reflected the president’s wish to fill the vacancy as soon as possible. He said Prabowo Subianto had a busy official schedule, and the MPR would have to coordinate the president’s itinerary with the plenary session to elect a new vice-president. He said: “The considerations are the president's activities and his schedule.”
He said a more definite timetable would be set after a meeting of the MPR leadership.
Under Article 8, Paragraph 2 of Indonesia’s 1945 Constitution, the MPR must convene within 60 days of the vice-presidency becoming vacant to elect a successor from two candidates nominated by the president.
Indonesia’s Coordinating Minister for Law, Human Rights, Immigration and Corrections Yusril Ihza Mahendra said on Thursday (12 November) that the constitution gives Prabowo Subianto full authority to decide whether to consult parties in the ruling coalition when selecting the two candidates.
Earlier on Friday, Democratic Party Chairman Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono said his party, which is part of the ruling coalition, would not recommend any candidates and would leave the nomination decision entirely to Prabowo Subianto. Prabowo Subianto has yet to announce the two candidates he intends to nominate.
