Analyst warns of possible fallout from election rift<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta\/Semarang<\/p>\n
As the Constitutional Court prepares to hear a complaint filed by
\npresidential candidate Wiranto and his running mate Solahuddin
\nWahid over alleged vote-rigging in the July 5 election, an
\nanalyst called on all sides to anticipate possible backlash
\narising from the court's decision.<\/p>\n
Political observer Laode Ida suggested on Sunday that leaders
\nfrom the Wiranto-Solahuddin camp and the Megawati Soekarnoputri-
\nHasyim Muzadi camp meet to renew their commitment to accept
\nwhatever decision the court makes.<\/p>\n
\"Both sides should meet and make a pledge that they will
\naccept whatever decision is handed down by the Constitutional
\nCourt. Such a meeting could reduce the possibility of open
\nconflict between their grassroots supporters,\" Laode said.<\/p>\n
The Constitutional Court will hear on Monday a complaint filed
\nlast Thursday by Wiranto alleging that he lost a total of 5.4
\nmillion votes across the country.<\/p>\n
The Wiranto camp also filed a judicial review with the Supreme
\nCourt over a General Elections Commission ruling declaring
\ndouble-punched ballots valid.<\/p>\n
The ruling contradicted Law No. 23\/2003 on presidential
\nelections, which declared double-punched ballots invalid.<\/p>\n
According to the official vote tally, Wiranto, who was
\nnominated by the Golkar Party, garnered 26.2 million votes in the
\npresidential election. That left him behind Susilo Bambang
\nYudhoyono, who collected 38.8 million votes, and Megawati
\nSoekarnoputri with 31.5 million votes, meaning Wiranto failed to
\nqualify for the September runoff.<\/p>\n
Wiranto claims that according to his camp's count, he finished
\nsecond in the election with just over 100,000 votes more than
\nincumbent President Megawati.<\/p>\n
Constitutional Court president Jimly Asshiddiqie suggested on
\nSaturday that Wiranto had a chance to move ahead of Megawati in
\nthe official tally if he could produce solid evidence of
\ninaccuracies in the vote count.<\/p>\n
Jimly held a private meeting with Wiranto last Thursday, the
\nday the retired Army general submitted his complaint.<\/p>\n
Megawati's camp urged the court on Sunday to maintain its
\nneutrality.<\/p>\n
A member of the central board of Megawati's Indonesian
\nDemocratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), Roy BB Janis, said the
\ncourt had to maintain its integrity and avoid any outside
\ninterference in its affairs.<\/p>\n
\"Do not let the political interests of a certain party meddle
\nin the decision-making process at the Constitutional Court,\" Roy
\nwas quoted by Antara news agency as saying.<\/p>\n
PDI-P deputy secretary-general Pramono Anung Wibowo said
\nMegawati's camps had set up a special team to anticipate any
\npossible fallout from the court's decision.<\/p>\n
Pramono said that the team was led by the party's chief
\nlawyer, Gayus Lumbun, and overseen by the secretary of Megawati's
\nelection team, Heri Akhmadi.<\/p>\n
He was upbeat that Megawati's position in the July 5 poll
\nwould be confirmed by the court.<\/p>\n
\"We are optimistic that our data will match that of the
\nGeneral Elections Commission,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Separately in Semarang, Central Java, the leader of the
\nMuslim-based Prosperous Justice Party (PKS), Hidayat Nurwahid,
\nsaid on Sunday his party would endorse one of the two
\npresidential candidates in the Sept. 20 runoff.<\/p>\n
Hidayat said the party's central board would announce its
\nendorsement after the Constitutional Court made a decision on
\nWiranto's complaint.<\/p>\n
\"The PKS is a political party, not a non-governmental or
\ncommunity organization. Therefore, we have to take part in the
\npresidential election by selecting one of the candidates in the
\nrunning,\" Hidayat said.<\/p>\n
In the first round of the election the PKS endorsed Amien
\nRais, who finished fourth out of five candidates.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/analyst-warns-of-possible-fallout-from-election-rift-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}