Jokowi, PDIP Oppose Each Other Over 1945 Constitution Amendment

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo officially opposes the 1945 Constitution amendment, which would allow the People’s Consultative Assembly (MPR) to reinstate the State Policy Guidelines (GBHN). This is a stark contrast to the stance shown by the president’s main political backer, the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP).

“I am a product of a direct election process,” the president asserted in a lunch with mass media bosses at the Merdeka Palace on Wednesday, August 14.

Moreover, the president assures that the GBHN is no longer relevant to the current age which grows in a quick dynamic manner that must be responded quickly, which he argues lacks within the core of the GBHN.

He also mentioned that the country’s development direction is already overseen in the Mid-Term Development Plan and National Long Term Development (RPJMN and RPJPN).

The MPR composed the 1945 Constitution’s 5^th amendment since last year. Political parties are known to be behind the call to amend the Constitution and reinstate the GBHN, which they claim can align the vision and missions of the nation’s development programs.

The parliament’s tenure that is nearing its end this year caused the discussion of the GBHN reinstatement to be handed to members of the MPR who are starting their 2019-2024 term.

Amending the 1945 Constitution was mentioned by Jokowi’s main political party endorses chairperson Megawati Soekarnoputri during the party’s 5^th national congress held in Sanur, Bali, last week.  

DEWI NURITA