Jakarta. Ahmad Muzani, Secretary-General of the Great Indonesia Movement Party (Gerindra), was officially appointed as the Speaker of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) following a meeting of incumbent party representatives on Wednesday evening.

The appointment was made by acclamation, according to Ahmad Basarah, head of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) faction in the Assembly.

The current MPR leadership board comprises nine members, including representatives from eight political parties and one representative from the Regional Representative Council (DPD), Indonesia's upper legislative chamber, similar to the US Senate.

Muzani will serve a five-year term as Speaker, concluding in October 2029.

Though many of its powers were reduced after the introduction of direct presidential elections in 2004, the MPR still retains significant authority, including the ability to amend the Constitution, impeach the president and/or vice president, and appoint a new president and vice president in the event that both the president and vice president are incapacitated.