President backs Boediono and Sri Mulyani

The Bank Century scandal has festered for many months as a special Parliamentary committee investigated the controversial bailout that occurred in November 2008. Each political faction of the committee made a conclusion based on their interpretation of the information they uncovered. Some factions named VP Boediono and Finance Minister Sri Mulyani as responsible for illegal losses to the state with the implication that they should resign or be impeached. Other factions backed them. The full Parliament is slated to hear and vote on the report in a matter of days. The vote has no direct legal bearing on the status of either official. It was heartening for those who believe that the bailout was made in good faith that the President took ultimate responsibility in his announcement yesterday:

"Although it was the finance minister who made the decision, I
say the decision is correct. And I am responsible for it and I
did not give any direction," Yudhoyono told bankers at the State
Palace in Jakarta on Monday.

"The policy is a choice of existing options. It was made with
authority, undertaken with good intention. From the situation,
he or she was forced to make a decision and it should be quick,"
the President added.

An ongoing investigation has found --and will probably continue to find-- evidence of criminal irregularities in how the bailout was administered. But with the President providing cover for Boediono and Sri Mulyani, it seems for now at least, that the government and (Boediono and Mulyani) can continue their reform work in earnest without this distraction.