Jakarta. Vice President Jusuf Kalla has said senior government figures could meet with the House of Representatives in a matter of days to explain why President Joko Widodo withdrew Comr. Gen. Budi Gunawan as his candidate for National Police chief.

“It could be next week,” Kalla said on Thursday.

Lawmakers have called on Joko to explain his reasons for dropping Budi as his sole nominee for police chief after the House had endorsed him in a fit-and-proper test and voted for his appointment.

Budi was named a corruption suspect by the Corruption Eradication Commission, or KPK, just three days after Joko announced his nomination in January.

The move spurred protests and public condemnation of the president, whom many suggested made the nomination out of deference to the chairwoman of his political party, Megawati Soekarnoputri, who is close to Budi.

The government is yet to receive an official request but it is understood Kalla has appointed chief security minister Tedjo Edhy Purdijatno and Justice Minister Yasonna Laoly to meet with the legislators to explain the decision to drop Budi.

Joko is abroad for state visits in Japan and China and it is unclear if he will meet with legislators. The House returned from a one-month recess on Monday to reject a fit-and-proper test for new police chief nominee Comr. Gen. Badrodin Haiti.

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Source: The Jakarta Globe