"With regard to the Budi Gunawan issue, we confirmed that the House of Representatives (DPR) already implemented the required procedures for his appointment and referred it to the president. He holds the prerogative and will make the decision (on whether to inaugurate Budi Gunawan)," he said after meeting with President Joko Widodo at the state palace in connection with the issue.
Joko Widodo nominated Commissioner General Budi Gunawan for the post of the countrys national police chief and submitted his name for approval to the parliament.
However, even after the parliament granted its approval, the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) named him a suspect in an alleged case of corruption, which made the president decide to postpone his inauguration.
A move that complicated the situation after Budi Gunawan was named a suspect, the police later named KPK Deputy Bambang Widjojanto a suspect for allegedly prompting a witness to give a false testimony at a court over a regional election dispute in 2010 when he was still a lawyer.
Furthermore, the DPR will respect whatever decision the president makes, Novanto pointed out, adding that he will come to a decision as soon as possible.
"Hopefully, it will all go well," the House Speaker remarked.
At the meeting, President Joko Widodo was flanked by Vice President Jusuf Kalla. All members of the DPR leadership attended the meeting, including Deputy Speakers Fahri Hamzah, Fadli Zon, Taufik Kurniawan and Agus Hermanto.
Moreover, at 2 p.m., President Joko Widodo also met with members of the leadership of the Regional Representatives Council (DPD), including Chairman Irman Gusman, Ratu Hemas and Farouk Muhammad.(*)
Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2015
