As the Tuesday session continued overnight, newly inducted DPD senators cast their votes to select their speaker. The candidates comprise Sultan Najamudin, who was the DPD deputy speaker for the 2019-2024 term, and the incumbent, La Nyalla Mattalitti.
Najamudin won the speakership after garnering 95 votes, defeating Mattalitti.
"Sultan Najamudin is duly elected as DPD speaker," Larasati Moriska, acting speaker of DPD by virtue of her youngest age, declared after the upper house speaker's election result.
As indicated by the number of ballot papers cast, 151 senators voted in the speaker's election. However, only 150 ballots were marked. As senators suggested the acting speaker proceed nonetheless, Moriska continued the counting process.
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As the deputy speakers' candidates are voted on the same ticket as the speaker candidate, DPD deputy speakers in Najamudin's ticket -- Queen Hemas of Yogyakarta, Yorrys Raweyai, and Tamsil Linrung -- were also duly elected.
Meanwhile, deputy speakers in the defeated Mattalitti's ticket comprise Nono Sampono, Elviana, and Andi Muh. Ihsan.
While presenting his candidacy to the newly inducted senators before the election, Najamudin promised to bring renewal and inclusivity in the upper house to realize the 2045 Golden Indonesia Vision on the country's centenary.
The induction of People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) members elected in the 2024 general election last February, consisting of 580 DPR members and 152 Regional Representatives Council (DPD) senators, took place at the Parliament Complex here on Tuesday morning.
The number of DPR members has increased from 575 to 580, while DPD members also increased from 136 to 152 due to the creation of new provinces.
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Translator: Bagus Ahmad R, Nabil Ihsan
Editor: Yuni Arisandy Sinaga
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