"Besides, there is the coalition joint secretariat."
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - A survey institute director has stated that there are no indications that suggest the toppling of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, despite the current legal and political climate in the country.

"The political and legal wrangling will continue until 2014 but it is not likely to lead to the toppling of President Yudhoyono," Indo Barometer director M Qodari, said during a discussion on "Year-End Reflection and Political Prediction for 2013" here on Thursday.

The program was attended by a senior politician from opposition Indonesia Democratic Party Struggle (PDIP), Sabam Sirait, an advisory board member of the opposition Gerindra Party, Permadi, and an advisory board member from the ruling Democrat Party, Hayono Isman.

"We have had cases like Centura Bank, Hambalang, Athlete Village, and the alleged extortion of state-owned company funds by some lawmakers. But there are no indications yet that suggest that President Yudhoyono would be removed," Qodari noted.

He said it was unlikely that the President would be removed by the Parliament because many influential Parliamentary leaders such as Taifuk Kiemas, Marzuki Alie and Irman Gusman were known to be supporting President Yudhoyono until 2014.

"Besides, there is the coalition joint secretariat," he pointed out.

"So, there are no indications that President Yudhoyono could be ousted. Such things can only happen in the event of a massive popular movement triggered by fundamental issues such as fuel price hike," Qodari said.

"However, this year`s political and legal scenario portends bad times in 2013 and 2014. Corruption has occurred across government institutions and in the DPR too. Moreover, communal conflicts have not been resolved properly.

President Yudhoyono has not taken any firm action against his subordinate in the Democrat Party who has been implicated in the Hambalang and Athlete Village cases. Besides, his administration has also been implicated in the Century Bank and other cases, he explained.

"If the current political environment continues, it is not impossible that the President will have to resign or be impeached," Qodari pointed out.

"Students and people in various regions have already started movements, demanding the resignation of Yudhoyono and Boediono. If an opportunity opens up, they will soon come to Jakarta," he said.

Meanwhile, Hayono Isman stated that President Yudhoyono, in the final years of his term, would focus on maintaining peace and would not get disturbed by political disputes ahead of 2014.

"The President would focus on serving out his term in the best interests of the country," he said.

"He would also have a solid cabinet, fight for democracy and maintain national unity to ensure success for his party in the 2014 general elections," Isman added.

On the occasion, Sabam Sirait said: "A coalition is not necessary to form a strong government, because the President is elected directly by the people."

"President Yudhoyono could himself decide who would assist him in carrying out his duties, without having to ask for suggestions from other political parties. Our constitution also states that the President has the prerogative to name his cabinet members. As this policy has not been implemented correctly so far, the situation has turned into what we are seeing now, in which the President has been held hostage by political parties and also by the DPR," he explained.

However, Qodari said it would be difficult to reshuffle the cabinet now because the move could cause tensions in the coalition and weaken Yudhoyono's administration.

"But surely, there will be political and legal surprises in the Yudhoyono-Boediono administration, like the one that former Democrat Party treasurer M Nazaruddin recently sprung up, which had a big political impact on the party and cadres," he stated.

Sports minister Andi Mallarangeng recently resigned from the cabinet after the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) named him as a suspect in the Hambalang case, which gave rise to speculation about a cabinet reshuffle.
(T.J004/H-YH/INE/KR-BSR/A014)

Editor: Priyambodo RH
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