REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- House Speaker Marzuki Alie chaired a joint session of the House of Representatives (DPR) and the Regional Representative Council (DPD) here on Friday with the key agenda of listening to President Yudhoyono's state address.
The annual event to commemorate the country's Independence was attended by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, First Lady Ani Yudhoyono, Vice President Boediono and his spouse Herawati Boediono, DPD Chairman Irman Gusman, Chairman of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) Sidarto Danusubroto, former president B.J. Habibie, former vice president Jusuf Kalla, and all the members of DPR and DPD.
During his speech, Marzuki Alie remarked that the commemoration of the 69th anniversary of Indonesia's Independence was a significant milestone as the nation has just successfully implemented democratic legislative and presidential elections.
Alie appreciated the smooth and peaceful implementation of the general elections despite encountering some hurdles in the implementation process.
He hoped that the next general elections will be executed in a more organized manner.
Regarding the presidential election held on July 9, he noted that the nation should wait for the Constitutional Court (MK) to make the final decision following a lawsuit filed by presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto who challenged the election results announced by the General Elections Commission (KPU) on July 22, 2014.
"We hope to see the birth of new leaders of the nation," Alie added.
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono delivered a State-of-The Nation Address in the joint session of DPR and DPD in connection with Indonesia's 69th independence anniversary on Friday morning.
In the afternoon, the President will also deliver a speech on the Draft 2015 State Budget and its financial notes at the opening of the plenary meeting of the first sitting of the DPR.