Dewi Nurita, Jakarta – NasDem Party has followed the steps taken by PDIP that has suggested to postpone the constitution amendment plan until the current government term ends in 2024. This means both political parties have officially revoked support for the 1945 constitution amendment.
"This suggestion is meant to prevent the constitution amendment plan broadening to discussion about extending the current presidential term. Which is why delaying the constitution amendment is the best option currently," said NasDem faction MPR Speaker Taufik Basari in a statement on March 21.
According to him, the Party's main argument is that talks about amendment are not urgently needed and said a number of public surveys show that the majority of people are not in agreement with such a move.
"The proposed amendment, according to NasDem, is still an idea from the elites and is not what the public demands," he said.
Meanwhile, MPR deputy speaker from the PDIP faction Ahmad Basarah on March 17 said that talks about amending the 1945 constitution should only be done under a conducive situation unlike the current negativity against ideas – coming from political elites – of delaying the election which leads to the idea of extending the current presidential term.
"Looking at the political dynamics that are developing at this time, it is better if the plan for a limited amendment to the Constitution is not implemented in the 2019-2024 period," Basarah said to Tempo.
The stand taken by NasDem and PDIP are also supported by two political parties not joined in the government coalition; Democrat Party and the PKS Party.
Deputy Chairman of the MPR RI from the PKS faction, Hidayat Nur Wahid, hopes that the political parties in the government coalition will follow PDIP's stance. "We hope that the proposed amendment will be stopped immediately, so [the situation can calm down]" he said, Thursday, March 17, 2022.
Prior to PDIP revoking its support for the constitutional amendment, there were four political party factions rejecting it, which include PKS, Golkar, Gerindra, and Democrat Party.
Source: https://en.tempo.co/read/1573212/nasdem-pdip-pulls-support-from-constitutional-amendment-pla