Law Professor Suggests Restoration of MPR's Function

Jakarta (Antara) - The People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) should be restored to offer a solution during a constitutional crisis, according to noted Law Professor Yusril Ihza Mahendra. "The MPR's function as the country's highest state body should be minimally restored to handle any situation that can escalate to a constitutional crisis," he stated at the presidential office after a meeting with President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, here on Tuesday. During the meeting, views were exchanged on ways to overcome a constitutional crisis. A constitutional crisis refers to a scenario wherein the constitution is unable to provide suitable means to overcome a crisis, he noted. Quoting an example, he explained "if until October 1, 2014, the KPU (the General Election Commission) fails to hold a general election and no DPR (House of Representatives), DPD (Regional Representatives Council), and MPR members are installed, then the term of the current DPR, DPD, and MPR cannot be extended, thereby, leading to a vacuum and no institution will be able to extend their terms." The professor added that a constitutional crisis can also arise if until October 20, 2014, when the term of the current president and cabinet ends, and no new president is installed. In such a situation, no institution will be able to extend the current term of the president, nor will it be able to name an acting president, unlike what the provisional MPR (MPRS) did in 1967, when the MPRS appointed Soeharto to become the president in place of Soekarno. President Yudhoyono's former justice minister noted that these problems are related to the state's existence. Yusril stated that during the meeting, President Yudhoyono had asked him to find solutions for overcoming a likely constitutional crisis, in order to ensure the security and sustainability of the country and the nation. (*)