The House of Representatives' Ethics Council dismissed on Wednesday House Speaker Ade Komarudin for violating ethics, a few hours before a planned plenary meeting scheduled to present his successor Setya Novanto, who is also Golkar Party chairman.

Chairman of the Ethics Council, Sufmi Dasco Ahmad, told the press that Ade was dismissed for misusing his power to influence several deliberations in the House, including his attempts to hamper the deliberation of the tobacco bill.

“Ade Komarudin has violated the code of ethics and is thus is dismissed from the speakership position as of today,” Dasco said.

“Therefore, the House chairmanship must bring the tobacco bill up in the plenary meeting to seek approval for deliberation,” the Gerindra politician added.

The decision to fire Ade was surprisingly rapid compared to many complaints of ethics violations against other lawmakers.

Ade had earlier accepted the Golkar Party decision to replace him with Setya, saying that he did so in obedience to his party.

Many observers regard the replacement of Ade with Setya as part of an effort by President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo to gain control of the House. (jun)