Total 120 members of the House of Representatives submitted the Hak Menyatakan Pendapat to parliamentary leaders on Wednesday.
The constitutional push targets the impeachment of Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka over a diploma dispute, ANTARA News Jambi reported.
The proceedings commenced under the direction of Saan Mustopa, detikNews reported. The threshold of 25 supporting legislators was surpassed immediately, BBC News Indonesia reported.
The PDI-P faction contributed 14 signatures, while Golkar provided 11, Gerindra submitted 11, and NasDem delivered 19. Kompas reported. Additional support came from 18 lawmakers from the National Awakening Party (PKB), 28 from the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS), one from the National Mandate Party (PAN), and 18 from the Democratic Party. Eighteen members of the PKB faction also signed the HMP.
Legislators Cite Constitutional Basis
Legislators anchored their move in Articles 20A and 79 of the 1945 Constitution and the law on the MPR, DPR, DPD, and DPRD, CNN Indonesia reported.
“We see that the latest dynamics have occurred. There have been linear decisions from the Constitutional Court and the Supreme Court regarding the legitimacy of the Vice President’s position, and we consider the matter within the legal area to be resolved. Secondly, we continue to monitor developments in the dynamics of society, whose aspirations are almost the same,” said Ahmad Doli Kurnia Tanjung, a Golkar politician. detikNews reported.
It is said that the requirements for submitting this application have been met.
“A total of 69 people have stated their intention to submit the HMP,” said Deputy Chairman of Commission XII of the DPR, Sugeng Suparwoto.
“Indications of such reprehensible actions also constitute a violation and are contrary to the ethics of national life as stated in the decree of the People’s Consultative Assembly of the Republic of Indonesia Number 6/MPR/2001,” said Mardani Ali Sera, a member of the House of Representatives from the PKS faction. BBC News Indonesia reported.
Political Alignment Across Factions
Gerindra emerged as the final faction to submit its list of 11 signatories after internal discussions among party members, Kompas reported. Azis Subekti initially withheld the names before Bahtra Banong read them aloud during the meeting.
“Because others have mentioned names, it would be inappropriate for me not to mention names,” said Bahtra Banong, a member of the House of Representatives from the Gerindra faction. Kompas reported.
“The second, Longki Djanggola, third Rahmawati, fourth Darori Wonodipuro, fifth La Tinro La Tunrung, sixth Hendro Hermono, seventh Abdul Wachid, eighth Martin Tumbuleka, ninth Mohammad Husni, tenth Hasikin Sultan, and finally myself,” he added.
“We represent several members of the House of Representatives from the PKB faction, who in this case are exercising their constitutional rights as regulated in Article 20A of the 1945 Constitution, and Article 79 paragraph 1 of Law Number 17 of 2014 concerning the proposal for the right to express opinions which could ultimately lead to the impeachment of Mr. Gibran Rakabuming as Vice President for alleged disgraceful acts or no longer fulfilling the requirements as Vice President,” said Muhammad Khozin, a member of the House of Representatives from the PKB faction. CNN Indonesia reported.
Next Steps in Parliament
Parliamentary leaders accepted the documentation during the Wednesday session, ANTARA News Jambi reported. The proposal will proceed to the Badan Musyarawah before reaching a plenary vote.
“Regarding this proposal, we will follow up in accordance with applicable laws and regulations and mechanisms,” said Saan Mustopa.
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