"We aim to complete the fit and proper test for the ambassador candidates this weekend, so the DPR can make its decision next week," Commission I Deputy Chair Sukamta told ANTARA on Friday.
Sukamta explained that Commission I, responsible for foreign policy, was assigned to the task during the DPR's plenary session on Thursday (July 3), after the parliament received letters from President Prabowo Subianto listing the proposed ambassadorial candidates.
He remarked that the fit and proper test will take place this Saturday and Sunday (July 5-6).
The deputy chair assured that the commission will focus on the quality and competence of ambassadorial candidates, who are expected to understand Indonesia's foreign policy.
Earlier, fellow Commission I legislator T. B. Hasanuddin emphasized that the process is intended to assess whether candidates can be endorsed for their designated posts, not to eliminate them from consideration.
"It is not a test. A test means that the candidate may pass or not," he clarified.
Hasanuddin remarked that the parliament may suggest the executive reassign a candidate to another country if legislators believe the individual would be better suited elsewhere.
The issue of vacant ambassadorial posts was raised by Deputy Chair of DPR Commission I, Anton Sukartono, during a working meeting with Foreign Minister Sugiono on Monday (June 30).
Apart from the United States, Japan, and North Korea, Indonesian embassies in Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Germany, Libya, Madagascar, Mexico, Myanmar, and Poland currently have no ambassadors.
Indonesia’s permanent missions to the United Nations in New York and Geneva are also without ambassadors.
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Translator: Benardy F, Nabil Ihsan
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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