DPD acts as an institution that balances the DPR (House of Representatives), so that the checks and balances function within the parliament can be fulfilled.
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Regional Representatives Council's (DPD's) standing should be strengthened in order to yield comprehensive policies at the parliamentary level, political expert and senior researcher from the Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI) Prof Siti Zuhro stated.

"DPD acts as an institution that balances the DPR (House of Representatives), so that the checks and balances function within the parliament can be fulfilled," Zuhro noted in a written statement received here on Tuesday.

According to Zuhro, the House has excessive domineering power that creates a relationship between the legislative and executive that is unduly aligning.

She believes that if DPD's position is asserted, then the function of checks and balances can be preserved.

"Which is why checks and balances from earlier is deemed necessary, so that the law that the parliament produces can be more effective and comprehensive," she explained.

Zuhro highlighted the need for a solution that can improve the capacity of an institution and the quality of parliament members to create political rationality within the context of democracy and orderliness within the government.

Moreover, she underscored the importance of reforming the parliamentary system, as it is important that the parliament performs the best it can.

"The goal is to ensure that Indonesia can immediately end an ambiguous system that only implemented unclear, unmeasured, and uncertain democratic consolidation," she elaborated.

Meanwhile, deputy speaker of DPD Mahyudin called for strengthening the council’s standing within the bicameral system to discuss bills or issues pertaining to the parliament's duties and responsibilities.

Mahyudin believes that in this day and age, national problems have become increasingly complex and require a more comprehensive viewpoint to solve them.

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Translator: M Zulfikar, Fadhli Ruhman
Editor: Sri Haryati
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