President Has Right to Decide Police Chief Candidate's Fate

Jakarta (Antara) -- President Joko Widodo has the prerogative right to choose the national police chief and the fate of the candidate for the post also rests in his hands, Deputy House Speaker Fadli Zon said. "The president has the full right to decide whether to inaugurate Commissioner General Budi Gunawan as the national police chief," Zon stated here on Thursday. He added that he did not have any objection to Jokowi inaugurating Gunawan, nor to him finding a replacement for the position. However, if the president does replace the candidate, who has already been approved by the House of Representatives (DPR), all procedures will have to be repeated. According to the deputy house speaker, Jokowi should first inaugurate Gunawan and then take subsequent measures. "The president should first inaugurate him. Whether temporarily or permanently is up to him," Zon remarked. (*)