Page 222 - BUKU A CENTURY OF PARLIAMENTARY LIFE IN INDONESIA

DPR-RI DURING THE NEW ORDER:
STRENGTHENING THE ROLE OF THE STATE (1967-1998)

The atmosphere in one
Montesquieu, a French political philosopher—are centered on the presi- of DPR-GR’s assembly in 1967.
dent, he will emerge as an institution that tends to be dictatorial because
he controls the functions of high state institutions.

In this regard, the DPR should have a significant role in the course of the
political history of the Indonesian nation. However, in several historical
periods, especially during the period of President Soekarno’s rule and
the New Order era led by President Soeharto, the role of the DPR was re-
duced by various executive powers of the president, which then reduced
the authority of the DPR as a legislative body.

However, the reality was that there had been a major change in the pow-
ers and functions of the DPR, both after President Soekarno’s decree and
during the fall of the Old Order. At that time, Soeharto’s prestige rose, not
only because he was concerned with national security and order in the
public sphere, but he was also authorized to “secure the conditions” of
the Government and politics, especially from the communist elements.
During this period, the Operational Command for the Restoration of Se-
curity and Order, or abbreviated as Kopkamtib, was formed, which was
commanded by Soeharto himself.

The inauguration of Soeharto as an official president by the MPRS in
March 1968 marked the end of leadership dualism in Indonesia. At the
same time, it ended the Old Order era and started the New Order rule.

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