Page 124 - BUKU A CENTURY OF PARLIAMENTARY LIFE IN INDONESIA

EFFORT TO REUNITE THE REPUBLIC OF INDONESIA
(1950 – 1960)

Many factors emphasize the DPR’s vital role in accepting or rejecting the
cabinet program. Members of the DPR considered the Wilopo Cabinet
a cabinet that put forward parliamentary values and democratic rights.
In general, the parties that existed were far from being disciplined. The
control exercised by the top party leadership could reach areas far from
the center of power.

Wilopo stated that the government had carried
out sufficient research and preparation to es-
tablish a suitable electoral system for Indonesia.
Therefore, the next thing that had to be done was
to prepare the Bills for General Elections.
For the DPR, the

Since the inauguration of the Wilopo Cabinet by initial stage in
President Soekarno, the general election became
an important issue that received significant at- resolving general
tention. One of the Wilopo Cabinet’s leading pro- election problems
grams was to hold general elections for the Con-
stituent Assembly and the Regional Council. The was to recommend
prospect of an early general election was taken the Wilopo Cabinet
much more seriously once this cabinet took of-
fice. One of his first acts was introducing a bill for immediately form
voter registration in July. a special agency

On the general election and establishing a Con- (institution) to deal
stituent Assembly in the regions, DPR members with general election
voiced differing opinions on the government’s
statement regarding the Wilopo Cabinet during issues.
a public opinion meeting. The government had
decided to lean towards a direct election system.

For the DPR, the initial stage in resolving general
election problems was to recommend the Wilopo
Cabinet immediately form a special agency (in-
stitution) to deal with general election issues. These institutions would
have the authority and ability to resolve constituent and parliamentary
problems at the central and regional levels.

dpr.go.id 117