PARLEMENTARIA, Jakarta - Mardani Ali Sera, Chairperson of the Committee for Inter-Parliamentary Cooperation (BKSAP) of the Indonesian House of Representatives, welcomed the director of the Congress Office for International Leadership (COIL) of the U.S. Congress in Nusantara III Building, Senayan, Jakarta. The meeting focused on exploring inter-parliamentary collaboration and a leadership workshop opportunity in the United States for Indonesian legislators.

“COIL is an institution under the United States Congress. It has been present in Indonesia for two years; this marks its first official visit. It came with a proposal for collaboration,” Mardani told Parlementaria after the meeting, on Tuesday (10/6/2025).

During the meeting, COIL offered the Indonesian House Members to participate in a leadership workshop in the U.S. this fall, around September 2025. Mardani said that five selected lawmakers will be sent to participate.

“We are in the process of selecting the Members that we will send. COIL requested that the selection should consider gender, age, seniority, and political party affiliation,” said the Prosperous Justice Party politician.

Mardani emphasized the importance of this program in enhancing Indonesian legislative capacity, particularly in establishing a parliament that is more responsive to public needs. He highlighted practices in the U.S. House of Representatives, where Members only serve only a two-year term, thus requiring them to have close relations with their constituents.

“If they are not close with the people, they will not be re-elected in the next two years. This is a critical lesson for us in building the House that listens more and responds better,” he said.

In addition to capacity building, the discussion  also touched upon the need to bolster relations between the Indonesian House and the U.S. Congress amid a dynamic global landscape.

“I underscored the importance of parliament-to-parliament cooperation, especially amid the political dynamic in the U.S., including the possible return of Donald Trump to power. Having partners and friends in the Congress is strategically important for Indonesia,” Mardani said.

Furthermore, the Head Bureau of the Inter-Parliamentary Cooperation of the Indonesian House will soon coordinate the nomination process for participants. “Hopefully, we can finalize and submit the list of nominees before the end of June,” Mardani concluded. (we/aha)