Politics of Indonesia
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Template:Politics of Indonesia Indonesia is a republic based on the 1945 constitution providing for a limited separation of executive, legislative, and judicial power. The governmental system has been described as "presidential with parliamentary characteristics." Following the Indonesian 1998 Revolution and the resignation of President Suharto, several political reforms were set in motion.
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Reform process
A constitutional reform process has been underway since 1999, and has already produced several important changes.
Among these are term limits of up to two 5-year terms for the President and Vice President, and measures to institute checks and balances. The highest state institution is the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR), whose functions included electing the president and vice president (since 2004 the president is elected directly by the people), establishing broad guidelines of state policy, and amending the constitution. The 695-member MPR includes all 550 members of the People's Representative Council (DPR) (the House of Representatives) plus 130 "regional representatives" elected by the 26 provincial parliaments and 65 appointed members from societal groups.
The DPR, which is the premier legislative institution, includes 462 members elected through a mixed proportional/district representational system and 38 appointed members of the armed forces (TNI) and police (POLRI). Under existing agreements, TNI/POLRI representation in the DPR will end at the time of the next general election in 2004 and will end in the MPR in 2009. Societal group representation in the MPR is expected to be eliminated in 2004 through further constitutional change. Military domination of regional administration is gradually breaking down, with new regulations prohibiting active-duty officers from holding political office.
Having served as rubberstamp bodies in the past, the DPR and MPR have gained considerable power and are increasingly assertive in oversight of the executive branch. Under constitutional changes in 2004, the MPR will become a bicameral legislature, with the creation of the Dewan Perwakilan Daerah (DPD) or Senate, in which each province will be represented by four members, although its legislative powers will be more limited than those of the DPR. In part, this reflects a desire to prevent the presidential excesses of the past and, in part, to restrain Wahid, who is seen as at times dangerously unpredictable. Through his appointed cabinet, the president retains the authority to conduct the administration of the government, but some observers believe the balance of power has shifted too far in the direction of the legislature.
A general election in June 1999 produced the first freely elected national, provincial, and regional parliaments in over 40 years. In October 1999 the MPR elected a compromise candidate, Abdurrahman Wahid, as the country's fourth president, and Megawati Sukarnoputri — a daughter of Sukarno, the country's first president — as the vice president. Megawati's PDI-P party had won the largest share of the vote (34%) in the general election, while Golkar, the dominant party during the Soeharto era, came in second (22%). Several other, mostly Islamic parties won shares large enough to be seated in the DPR.
Political parties and elections
Template:Elect Template:Main Template:Indonesian presidential election, 2004 Template:Main Template:Indonesian legislative election, 2004
Fast facts
- Constitution
August 1945, abrogated by Federal Constitution of 1949 and Provisional Constitution of 1950, restored July 5, 1959
- Legal system
Based on Roman-Dutch law, substantially modified by indigenous concepts and by new criminal procedures code; has not accepted compulsory International Court of Justice jurisdiction.
- Suffrage
17 years of age; universal and married persons regardless of age
Executive branch
- chief of state
- President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (since 20 October 2004)
- head of government
- President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, Vice President Jusuf Kalla
- cabinet
- United Indonesia Cabinet (Kabinet Indonesia Bersatu)
- elections
- The president and vice president are selected by vote of the citizens for five-year terms. Prior to 2004, they were chosen by People's Consultative Assembly. The last election was held 20 September 2004.
- election results
- Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono won the election with 61% of the vote. Incumbent Megawati Sukarnoputri received 39% of the vote.
Legislative branch
- elections
last held 5 April 2004
Judicial branch
The "Supreme Court" (Mahkamah Agung) is the highest level of the judicial branch. Its judges are appointed by the president.
Election Organisation and Oversight
The General Election Committee (KPU - Komisi Pemilihan Umum) is the body responsible for running both parliamentary and presidential elections in Indonesia.
Prior to the General Election of 2004, the KPU was made up of members who were also members of political parties, however members of the KPU must now be non-partisan.
Further reading
- O'Rourke, Kevin. 2002. Reformasi: the struggle for power in post-Soeharto Indonesia. Crows Nest, NSW: Allen & Unwin. ISBN 1865087548
- Schwarz, Adam. 2000. A nation in waiting: Indonesia's search for stability. Boulder, CO: Westview Press. ISBN 0813336503
See also
- Government Administration in Indonesia
- Foreign relations of Indonesia
- List of Presidents of Indonesia
- List of Vice Presidents of Indonesia
- Flag of Indonesia
- Government Administration in Indonesia
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lt:Indonezijos politinė sistema nl:Politiek van Indonesië pt:Política da Indonésia