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| Saturday, 2 October 2004 |
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Indonesia swears in new parliament JAKARTA, Friday (Reuters) Indonesia's new parliament was sworn in on Friday with the country's next president a notable absentee from ceremonies at an institution expected to pose a tough challenge to his rule. The 550-member parliament is stacked with old-guard parties that opposed Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's rise to power in the country's first direct presidential election on Sept. 20. Aides explained Yudhoyono's absence by saying he did not want to steal the limelight before the election commission validates his crushing win over incumbent President Megawati Sukarnoputri. That announcement will be made on Oct. 5. "For what? It is not the right time yet," said one senior aide, when asked if Yudhoyono would attend. For the first time in decades there were no seats reserved for active military generals as legislators were sworn in. The military lost its 38 seats under stuttering reforms aimed at reducing its power, although analysts have always said those seats were never the source of its real influence. Many expect Yudhoyono to find parliament one of his biggest headaches when he takes office on Oct. 20, partly because his fledgling Democrat Party holds just 10 percent of seats. The three largest parties include Megawati's party and together hold 55 percent of seats under an opposition block called the Nationhood Coalition. |
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