HOUSE SPEAKER HOPES NO INTERRUPTION DURING PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS

Jakarta, July 29 (ANTARA) - House Speaker Agung Laksono has expressed hope that there would be no interruption during President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's address on the 2010 state budget on August 3.

The president will deliver a state-of-the-nation address on the 2010 state budget and his introduction of the state's financial note at a House of Representatives (DPR) extraordinary plenary session on Monday, August 3, 2009.

"I hope there will be no interruption during the president's address on Monday," Laksono told the press at the legislative building here on Wednesday.

Laksono said the House extraordinary plenary session would be attended by Vice President Jusuf Kalla, all United Indonesia Cabinet ministers, foreign envoys, and the leaders of state institutions.

Although President Yudhoyono would deliver his address before the legislators at the House extraordinary plenary session, Laksono said it would be the president's state of the nation address which according to the law should be delivered in August.

Laksono said that after the president had concluded his speech, the House plenary session would be continued with two other agenda namely the approval of the bill on 2009 state budget and the bill on the structure and position (Susduk) of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR), House Representatives (DPR), Regional Representative Council (DPD), and Provincial Legislative Assembly (DPRD).

"Although the special committee (Pansus) have yet to agree on a number of articles in the two bills, there will be a voting in the plenary session," Laksono said.

He asserted that the passing of the two bills into law was inevitable because a number of important agenda such as the inauguration of elected legislators and president could not be delayed.

Commenting on a polemic surrounding the Supreme Court ruling in relation with the elected legislators, Laksono said it should be ended immediately through a political decision that did not violate existing laws.

In this case, Laksono was of the opinion that the General Election Commission (KPU) could take initiative to make a consultation with the law makers and the government before making a decision.

"Thus the initiative for a consultation should not necessarily come from the DPR because the KPU can also make it," Laksono said.