Former forestry minister Zulkifli Hasan from the National Mandate Party (PAN) as the new MPR speaker for the 2014-2019 term with four deputy speakers including Osman Sapta Odang from the Regional Representatives Council (DPD).
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The coalition supporting defeated presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto, was victorious again in the election for leaders of the Peoples Consultative Assembly (MPR), after a sweeping victory in earlier election for the parliamentary leaders.

The process of election from Tuesday night until early in the morning on Wednesday ended with the winning coalition called Red and White Coalition (KMP) was favored with 347 votes against the coalition supporting president elect Joko Widodo that garnered 330 votes.

KMP led by Gerindra, which was founded by Prabowo, named former forestry minister Zulkifli Hasan from the National Mandate Party (PAN) as the new MPR speaker for the 2014-2019 term with four deputy speakers including Osman Sapta Odang from the Regional Representatives Council (DPD).

Osman Sapta, the only candidate from DPD in the election, was named candidate for speaker by the defeated coalition, but he was also named one of the deputy speakers of the winning coalition.

Other deputy speakers are Mahyudin from Golkar, Evant Ernest Mangindaan from the ruling Democratic Party, Hidayat Mur Wahid from the Islamic Prosperous Justice Party (PKS).

MPR, which is one of the countrys highest institutions, is made up of the whole members of the Parliament and DPD with the authority to amend and make the Constitution.

Prabowo, controlling a big majority in the parliament has accused the presidential election of being massively rigged, but the Constitution Court dismissed his allegation.(*)

Editor: Heru Purwanto
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