Bill allows only big parties to run for presidency<\/p>\n
Tiarma Siboro and Debbie Lubis, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Only a coalition of parties or those parties securing at least 20
\npercent of the vote are allowed to name their presidential and
\nvice presidential candidates in the 2004 election, a government-
\nsponsored draft law states.<\/p>\n
The presidential election bill also proposes that a party or a
\ncoalition of parties nominate only one pair for presidential and
\nvice presidential posts.<\/p>\n
Regarding the timing, the draft says the presidential election
\nwill take place after the election of members of the House of
\nRepresentatives (DPR) and Regional Representatives Council (DPD).
\nThe names of presidential candidates, however, can be made public
\nbefore the general election.<\/p>\n
The last election in 1999 saw the Indonesian Democratic Party
\nof Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) finish first by winning 34 percent
\nof the vote, but lose in the presidential race to a loose
\ncoalition of Muslim parties and Golkar.<\/p>\n
Minister of Home Affairs Hari Sabarno said on Tuesday the
\ndraft, the fourth of its kind, would be presented to President
\nMegawati Soekarnoputri on Thursday. He expected to immediately
\nsubmit the bill to the House for deliberation.<\/p>\n
Hari was speaking during a media conference that followed a
\nministerial meeting on political and security affairs presided
\nover by Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs
\nSusilo Bambang Yudhoyono at Susilo's office.<\/p>\n
The meeting was held to discuss several issues, including the
\nbills on political parties, the general election, the direct
\npresidential election and the composition and construction of the
\nPeople's Consultative Assembly\/House of Representatives and
\nregional legislatures.<\/p>\n
Deliberation of the first two bills are under way at the
\nHouse, but it is almost unlikely that they will be passed by the
\nend of the year as scheduled.<\/p>\n
The presidential election bill stipulates that the
\npresidential and vice presidential candidates have to meet
\ncertain requirements, including being Indonesian and having a
\nclean track record.<\/p>\n
\"Since the presidential election and general election are
\nnational events, any local regulation implemented by certain
\nregions should comply with the law,\" Hari said.<\/p>\n
\"For example, the Papuan People's Council, which was
\nestablished in line with the special autonomy granted to that
\nprovince, has no authority to nominate its presidential
\ncandidates,\" Hari said.<\/p>\n
The presence of local parties, as well as local independent
\ncandidates, will not be accommodated in the bill, Hari said.<\/p>\n
With regard to the bill on political parties being deliberated
\nat the House, Hari said that the government was considering
\nfinancially supporting parties that win seats at the House, but
\nasserted that the subsidy would only be aimed at helping the
\nparties' offices run their daily activities.<\/p>\n
Previously, the government planned to stop supporting the
\npolitical parties in an attempt to make them more independent.<\/p>\n
Despite strong rejections from several non-governmental
\norganizations against the political party bill, including the
\nCenter for Electoral Reform (Cetro), Hari said that the
\ngovernment would maintain its presence in the General Election
\nCommission (KPU) through a secretary-general.<\/p>\n
Hari said the government's presence in KPU was aimed at
\nhelping it monitor political parties' financial reports.<\/p>",
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