TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - State administration expert Refly Harun said president-elect Joko Widodo did not need to worry about the domination of the Prabowo-led Red and White coalition in the parliament. "The president is still stronger [than lawmakers]," he told Tempo.
Refly explained the heated tension between the legislative and executive powers are normal in a country. "The most important thing is that the Jokowi administration needs to be straight," he said, adding that Jokowi needed to issue pro-people policies.
Refly said Jokowi also needed to exercise caution in selecting his ministers to eliminate corruption potential—referring to what happened in outgoing President Yudhoyono's cabinet.
Refly suggested that Jokowi keep an eye on the draft bills proposed by the parliament in the future. "The president has the right to reject a draft bill," he said.
Refly added Jokowi must also be able to close any loophole that the House might take advantage of to reinstate the People's Consulatative Asssembly (MPR) as the most powerful institution in the country.
"It is because the executive and legislative are from opposing parties," he said.
ANDI RUSLI