Page 149 - BUKU A CENTURY OF PARLIAMENTARY LIFE IN INDONESIA

A CENTURY OF PARLIAMENTARY LIFE
IN INDONESIA

The government also conveyed its decisions and
statements to the DPR before the Constituent
Assembly through a message to the Constituent
Assembly delivered by President Soekarno on
After the first session April 22, 1959 in Bandung.

failed to obtain a The government decisions and statements

unanimous vote, the showed the eroding power and diminishing con-

second ballot was fidence in the Constituent Assembly in its func-
tion as a constitution maker.
taken on June 1, 1959,
attended by 469 people. The Constituent Assembly held a vote to estab-
lish the 1945 Constitution as the constitution of
The second ballot the Republic of Indonesia. The preliminary hear-

resulted in 264 votes ing before the first vote held on May 30, 1959
in favor and 204 votes determined that the vote was considered valid if
two-thirds of the Constituent members present
against. agreed. If less than two-thirds of the vote agreed,
the assembly would hold a second vote on June 1,
1959, and the third vote on June 2, 1959.

In the first ballot on May 30, 1959, of the 478 Con-
stituent members, 269 voted in favor and 199
against Indonesia’s return to the 1945 Constitu-
tion. Therefore, because a quorum was not met, a second ballot was held
on June 1, 1959.

After the first session failed to obtain a unanimous vote, the second bal-
lot was taken on June 1, 1959, attended by 469 people. The second ballot
resulted in 264 votes in favor and 204 votes against. A quorum was not
met yet again.

A third vote was held on June 2, 1959, with 468 members in attendance.
Of the 468 members, 263 voted in favor, 203 voted against. The third
session received the public’s attention. Many flocked to the Constituent
Assembly at Gedung Merdeka, Bandung, to find out the outcome of the
vote that would determine the fate of the Indonesian nation and state.

Meanwhile, amid uncertain conditions due to the Constituent Assembly’s
voting results stagnation, the government attempted to control the
situation through A. H. Nasution as Chief War Supreme Ruler. Accordingly,
Nasution issued Regulation of the Central War Authority/Army Chief

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