BBM Price Hike Not Enough Reason to Impeach President: Mahfud MD

Surabaya, E Java (Antara) - Former Constitutional Court Chief Justice Prof Dr Mahfud MD said oil fuel (BBM) price hike and electric tariff rise and other policies are not reasons enough to impeach the president. "Unless there is corruption in the implementation of the policies," Mahfud said commenting on talks in the parliament to call for interpellation that may lead to attempt to impeach President Joko Widodo (Jokowi). Impeachment is almost impossible legally at present as it needs five reasons that are not easy to prove, he said. "The five reasons allowed by the law are corruption, bribery, state treason, grave crimes and disgraceful deed. Therefore, there is no reason for worry about impeachment," he said. In addition, approval is needed from two third of the parliament members, he said at a year end meeting of university lecturers of state constitutional law and state administration law. The pro government legislators make up more than 1/3 of the members of parliament (DPR). Even if the motion succeeded in the parliament it will still need the support of 3/4 of the members of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR), he said. "Especially as the attitude of the parliament and the MPR is closely watched by the people, the mass media and non governmental organizations, he added. (*)