Jakarta. The wife of the late President Abdurrahman Wahid, popularly known as Gus Dur, expressed her gratitude on Sunday for the recent annulment of the 2001 parliamentary decree that led to his impeachment.

Gus Dur was impeached on July 23, 2001, after failing to attend a "special session" of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR), Indonesia's highest legislative body, where he was expected to deliver an accountability report.

The impeachment was triggered after Gus Dur issued a presidential decree to dissolve the House of Representatives, following escalating tensions between the president and lawmakers over frequent cabinet reshuffles and allegations of corruption.

The MPR decree, signed by then-MPR Speaker Amien Rais, accused Gus Dur of committing "serious violations of the state guidelines" by refusing to attend the special session and failing to submit his accountability report.

As a result, Gus Dur left the presidential palace after just 21 months in office, and Vice President Megawati Soekarnoputri was subsequently appointed president in his place.

Gus Dur died on December 30, 2009, at the age of 69.

Earlier this week, current MPR Speaker Bambang Soesatyo announced that the controversial decree had been annulled, following a request from the National Awakening Party (PKB), which Gus Dur co-founded.

Gus Dur’s wife, Sinta Nuriyah Wahid, thanked the Assembly's current members and leadership for rescinding the decree and called for continued efforts to restore her husband’s reputation.

Speaking at the legislative building in Jakarta, Sinta claimed that the decree had haunted the family for years, as it painted Gus Dur as a violator of the Constitution, without granting him the opportunity to defend himself or appeal the decision.

She also noted that Gus Dur's negative portrayal had been included in school history books, and emphasized that the annulment should be more than just "political rhetoric."

“We hope this annulment will serve as the first step and a legal foundation for further efforts to rehabilitate Gus Dur’s name,” Sinta said.

“On behalf of Gus Dur’s family, I welcome this reconciliation process, as long as it’s pursued with sincerity,” she added.

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