Page 180 - BUKU A CENTURY OF PARLIAMENTARY LIFE IN INDONESIA

THE NEW FACE OF INDONESIAN PARLIAMENT
(1959-1966)

THE POLITICAL CONSTELLATION DURING

THE ERA OF GUIDED DEMOCRACY

Some of President Soekarno’s biggest political problems during the

implementation of Parliamentary Democracy (Liberal) were facing huge
differences between the revolutionary line that he wanted and the vision and

mission of the parties from the 1955 election.

DIFFERENCES that always existed had resulted in frequent cabinet
changes in a short period of time. There had been at least seven chang-
es, namely:

(1). 1950-1951 - Natsir Cabinet
(2). 1951-1952 - Sukiman-Suwirjo Cabinet

(3). 1952-1953 - Wilopo Cabinet The Constitutional

(4). 1953-1955 - Ali Sastroamidjojo I Cabinet Assembly first convened

(5). 1955-1956 - Burhanuddin Harahap Cabinet on 10 November 1956,

(6). 1956-1957 - Ali Sastroamidjojo II Cabinet but until 1958 it failed to
(7). 1957-1959 - Djuanda Cabinet formulate a constitution
that would replace the
So, in essence, during this period, Soekarno was 1950 Constitution.
not able to seriously make political policies as de-
sired by various interest groups because he often
clashed with various interests that would be car-
ried out by political parties. On the other hand, the
constitution also limited Soekarno’s movement to
realize his various policies.

Another thing that made Soekarno worried was that the Constitutional
Assembly had repeatedly failed to reach an agreement in its sessions.
The Constitutional Assembly first convened on 10 November 1956, but
until 1958 it failed to formulate a constitution that would replace the 1950
Constitution. During its two year-long session, the activities of the Con-
stitutional Assembly could be said to have stalled.

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