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s political parties remain nonchalant over President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo’s hegemony in the legislature, Golkar Party chairman Setya Novanto, whose party has declared its support for the president’s reelection bid, may find it easy to regain command of the legislative body.

Other factions at the House of Representatives have shown little resistance to the party’s plan to reinstate Setya as the legislative body’s speaker, despite warnings from political analysts that such a move would push public trust in the institution to a new low.

The Gerindra Party, despite standing in opposition to the government camp, welcomed Golkar’s plan, even encouraging Setya to reclaim the post he had occupied last year before he became embroiled in corruption allegations.

Under pressure over reportedly abusing his position to lobby the government on behalf of copper and gold mining company PT Freeport Indonesia, Setya resigned late last year. He was soon replaced by his party colleague Ade Komarudin.

“It’s the at the sole discretion of Golkar [to decide on a replacement], and Gerindra has no interest in that matter, but we suggest that Golkar should immediately replace Ade with Setya, because Setya has not been proven guilty of any ethical violations,” Gerindra deputy chairman Arif Poyuono said on Tuesday.

After his resignation as speaker, Setya beat Ade to become the party’s leader, after assuring the party that he would support the government and back Jokowi for reelection in 2019.

Recently, the Constitutional Court ruled that tape recordings — the main evidence in the case against Setya — are not valid to prove conspiracy in corruption, making Setya’s case legally baseless.

The plan to reinstate Setya to the House’s top post and unseat Ade emerged from among Golkar cadres, particularly Setya’s supporters, following the council’s decision to clear Setya’s name in response to the court ruling.

Democratic Party deputy chairman Didik Mukrianto also left the matter up to Golkar, citing the House’s Code of Conduct. “Based on political ethics, we must respect the stance of other parties,” Didik said.

Political expert Hendri Satrio of Paramadina University said a return of Setya as House speaker would bring back the New Order era, when the House was “a rubber-stamp parliament” that approved any government decision.

“[If Setya returns as House speaker], that would be nice for both the House and the government, given their personal closeness. Although in the end it is easy for Setya to get what he wants, it will create public uproar. The people will complain,” Hendri said.

Setya looks keen to follow Golkar’s tradition, in which its chief wears two hats — being party chairman and House speaker. Akbar Tandjung (1998-2004), Harmoko (1993-1998) and Wahono (1988-1993) are former party chairmen who served as House speakers.

However, given that the party’s public image was already tainted, Hendri said the party should work on ways to get public support.

Such a recommendation may also benefit Jokowi. “If Jokowi is supported by a party whose chairman has a bad image, that will effect Jokowi’s electability in the 2019 presidential election,” Hendri said.

If Golkar pressed ahead with its plan, another political analyst, Yudi Latif, predicted the public’s perception of the House and Jokowi would worsen, because people would see clearly how politicians were interested only in competing for dominance in power, not only because Setya was accused of ethical violations, but also because there was no reason to replace Ade.

“Although the ethics council has declared Setya’s innocence, the public will see how an important post at the House can be easily played,” Yudi said.

“If the politicians can’t control their desires, it will [reflect badly] on the institution and eventually lead to political instability.”