Oesman Sapta Elected as DPD Speaker During Chaotic Plenary Meeting
Jakarta. Oesman Sapta Odang, chairman of the People's Conscience Party, or Hanura, was elected unanimously as speaker of the Regional Representatives Council, or DPD, during a chaotic plenary meeting in the early hours of Tuesday (04/04).
Squabbles broke out during the meeting councilors protested the legitimacy of deputy speakers Farouk Muhammad and GKR Hemas, who should have ended their two-and-half-year terms on Monday, according to a regulation issued in January.
However, the Supreme Court revoked the regulation last Thursday when it reinstated five-year terms for DPD leaders.
At least 60 councilors signed a no-confidence motion against the current leaders, who were forcefully dismissed them from their posts.
The forum appointed AM Fatwa and Riri Damayanti – the oldest and youngest councilors respectively – to lead the plenary meeting at 12.30 a.m. on Tuesday.
At least 62 councilors unanimously elected Oesman as new DPD speaker for the 2017-2019 term, replacing Muhammad Saleh, who was not present during the plenary session.
Oesman, who was appointed as chairman of Hanura in February, currently serves as deputy speaker of the People’s Consultative Assembly (MPR). It remains unclear whether he will leave his post in the MPR.
Former Navy general Nono Sampono of North Maluku and Damayanti Lubis of North Sumatra were elected as deputy speakers.
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