Indonesian President Mr Abdurrahman Wahid is increasingly likely to face an impeachment hearing after a second parliamentary censure over two corruption scandals, a senior official with the country's biggest party said today.
Parliament voted overwhelmingly yesterday to censure Mr Wahid again, moving closer to possible impeachment by the supreme People's Consultative Assembly (MPR).
Mr Wahid today brushed off the rebuke, but analysts said the ailing Muslim cleric's tumultuous 18-month rule was doomed.
But the secretary-general of Vice President Mr MegawatiSukarnoputri's Indonesian Democratic Party-Struggle (PDI-P), the country's largest party, said the likelihood of an impeachment was growing.
“There is a bigger chance we will go to the special session than not”, he said when asked about the chances of a special MPR sessionafter thesecond censure.
Palace officials said Mr Wahid would address the nation today in a pre-recorded speech but declined to say what the speech would cover.
Mr Wahid has a month to respond to the second rebuke over the multi-million dollar scandals, but analysts say he has little hope of winning over parliament, with whom his relations have become increasingly bitter.