Election To The Acting Presidency
By February 1967, President Sukarno realized that his political career was at an end and he became concerned at cutting his losses. On 7 February, he sent a letter to Suharto saying that he was willing to hand over the running of the Government to the General but also added that he would like to continue on as Head of State. In the time between the arrival of that letter and the formulation of the reply, the People's Representative Council (DPR) passed a resolution which called for a Special Session of the Provisional People's Consultative Assembly (MPRS). Suharto, accompanied by the Commanders of the Navy, Air Force, and Police, met with Sukarno on the 11th February to reject his offer and to wait instead for the result of the MPRS Special Session.
On 20 February 1967, Sukarno chose to relinquished all executive power to Suharto whilst still retaining his position as President. Sukarno's decision did not stop the DPR from insisting that the MPRS Special Session go ahead. Originally calling for an MPRS Special Session to be held for the purpose of reviewing Sukarno’s performance as well as reaching a final decision on whether or not he was involved with the 30 September Movement (G30S), the DPR now asked that the MPRS Special Session add Suharto's election as Acting President to the agenda.
The Special Session was opened on 7 March 1967. On that day, Suharto delivered a speech absolving Sukarno of any involvement with the G30S. The Special Session now turned on the matter of the Presidency. Such was the intensive debate surrounding this matter that the Special Session did not finish on 11 March 1967 as intended but had to go for another extra day. But when the decision was finally made, it was unanimous. On 12 March 1967, the MPRS agreed to withdrew its mandate from Sukarno and remove him as President. Replacing Sukarno, in the capacity of Acting President would be Suharto.
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