President Jokowi Finally Sends A Surpres Substitution Of The TNI Commander To The DPR, Who Was Voted?

President Jokowi when inaugurating General Andika Perkasa as TNI Commander (Photo: BPMI Setpres/Lukas)

"President Joko Widodo sent a presidential letter regarding the replacement of the TNI commander to the Indonesian House of Representatives in Jakarta, Wednesday, November 23," said Minister of State Secretary (Mensesneg) Pratikno.

"We (Istana) have calculated that today it will be sent to the DPR for the presidential surpres," said Pratikno at the State Palace, Jakarta.

According to Pratikno, the sending of the presidential decree on Wednesday also considers the DPR recess which will start in the near future. When asked what the name of the candidate for TNI commander was proposed by Jokowi, Pratikno was reluctant to answer.

"Later, when the DPR has received it, it will be from the DPR that will convey it," added Pratikno.

He explained that prospective TNI commanders could come from three TNI matra staff chiefs or former staff chiefs who are still active as members of the TNI.

"If the candidate for TNI commander is definitely from the chief of staff or the former chief of staff who is still active. That's it, that's the clue," said Pratikno.

The current TNI Commander, General TNI Andika Perkasa, will enter retirement age at the end of December 2022. Andika Perkasa was inaugurated by President Jokowi as TNI Commander on November 17, 2021, according to Presidential Decree No. 106/TNI 2021. Andika at that time replaced Marshal Hadi Tjahjanto.

Based on Law (UU) Number 34 of 2004 concerning the TNI, the highest retirement age for soldiers is 58 years for officers and 53 years for non-commissioned and non-commissioned officers. Andika was born on December 21, 1964 or 57 years ago, so that on December 21, 2022 she was 58 years old.

According to the TNI Law, the TNI commander was appointed and dismissed by the president after obtaining approval from the DPR. If the DPR does not approve the presidential candidate for commander in chief, then the president then proposes a replacement candidate.