Challenges Ahead for Puan

KOMPAS/HERU SRI KUMORO

A member of the House of Representatives, Puan Maharani, attends a ceremony for the inauguration of members of the House, People’s Consultative Assembly (MPR) and Regional Representatives Council (DPD) for the 2019-2024 period at the Senayan legislative complex, Jakarta, Tuesday (1/10/2019).

The inauguration of Puan Maharani as House of Representatives speaker on Tuesday (1/10/2019) marks a new milestone in Indonesia\'s democracy. Puan became the first female House speaker in the country\'s 74-year history.

In a plenary meeting of House members from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP) on Tuesday, Puan referred to her inauguration as pecah telur (breaking an egg), an idiom meaning a breakthrough. Puan said it was an achievement not only for the PDIP but also for all of Indonesians, especially women.

"In the future, any woman can serve as House speaker. All women who dream of being president or vice president can make it happen, because we have had a female president and vice president. Any woman who wants to be coordinating minister can be, because we have had a female coordinating minister," she said.

Born in 1973, Puan is the daughter of Indonesia\'s fifth president, Megawati Soekarnoputri. Her father, the late Taufiq Kiemas, was speaker of the People\'s Consultative Assembly (MPR) from 2009 to 2013. Puan\'s grandfather, Soekarno, was Indonesia\'s founding father and first president.

KOMPAS/KURNIA YUNITA RAHAYU

Puan Maharani

Puan said that her path to the House speakership was not without obstacles. She had been elected a House member three times, amassing a huge number of votes every time. In the 2019 election, she obtained the largest number of votes nationwide, namely 404,034 votes, from the Central Java V constituency. Puan will face difficult challenges ahead. Currently, the House is under public scrutiny.

What policies will the House prioritize under your leadership?

First is synergy between the executive and legislative branches. All political parties representing the people can work together to get the best result. We can have different opinions from the government or stand apart from it. However, on certain pro-people issues that we have agreed upon, the House must stand and work together with the government.

What do you think about the House\'s legislation process?

I hope the lawmakers in the next term can produce more laws effectively. It\'s not about quantity. There must be synergy between the government, the House and input from the public and experts on laws being deliberated.

(REK/SAN/NIA)

KOMPAS/HERU SRI KUMORO

Puan Maharani