The Indonesian Vice Presidency was established during the formulation of the 1945 Constitution by the Investigating Committee for Preparatory Work for Independence (BPUPK). The office was first filled on 18 August 1945 when Mohammad Hatta was elected by acclamation. The election was conducted by the Preparatory Committee for Indonesian Independence (PPKI) because the body responsible for the vice-presidential elections, the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR), had not been formed yet. On 16 October 1945, Hatta announced a vice-presidential decree which gave the Central Indonesian National Committee (KNIP) equal status with that of the President. As a result of this decree, the KNIP was able to separate the role of Head of State and Head of Government on 11 November 1945. Although a new constitution had not been set up yet, Indonesia was now a de facto Parliamentary Democracy.