Setya Novanto`s Successor Must be Young, Man of Integrity: Expert

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Golkar Party should choose an experienced, young, and man of integrity to succeed Setya Novanto, the Golkar chairman house speaker, who is currently being temporarily detained by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK), said Syamsuddin Haris, an expert in politics from the Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI).

"Therefore, the next chairman of the House of Representatives (DPR) should bring fresh air and optimism for DPR, in the eye of the public, and for the party itself," Syamsuddin Haris said.

He believes that Golkar also has outlined similar criteria.

The next chairman of Golkar will become the house speaker, because the seat is set for the party's politician, based on the result of the previous legislative elections.

To maintain good image of the Indonesian Parliament, its speaker should be a man of integrity and clean, he added.

Read also: AMPG Suggests Bambang Soesatyo as Setya Novanto`s Successor

Meanwhile, Sarifuddin Sudding, deputy chairman of the Ethics Committee (MKD) of DPR, has urged Novanto to take a stance before the Committee makes a decision regarding the alleged ethic violation committed by him.

"I think, hopefully, he will take a stance before a decision is made by MKD," he revealed here on Monday.

Several members of MKD recently visited Novanto in KPK, and Novanto realized about his position, he remarked, adding that he was not sure when Novanto would resign as house speaker.

"But, for sure, he is very much aware of his position and has apologized for what had happened to him. He has also promised to take a stance in the near future," Sudding stated regarding the likely replacement of Novanto from his current position.

Earlier, Vice President Jusuf M. Kalla had noted that the Golkar Party's statute will prevent any attempt by the pro-Novanto faction to foil the implementation of the extraordinary congress.

The party's Central Leadership Council (DPP) has received requests from the DPDs at the provincial and district levels to hold an extraordinary congress to find a successor of Novanto.

The anti-graft agency has temporary detained Setya Novanto, after he was named a suspect in a corruption case concerning electronic identity (e-ID) card project.

ANTARA