Direct gubernatorial elections OK, but not this time around: Sutiyoso<\/p>\n
Ahmad Junaidi, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
City Governor Sutiyoso and several councillors agreed on Thursday
\nto the proposal for a direct gubernatorial election here, but
\nexpressed doubts that it could be applied in the next election
\ndue to time constraints and the lack of political will.<\/p>\n
\"I agree with a direct gubernatorial election, but do we have
\nenough time the prepare the law and regulations?\" Sutiyoso told
\nreporters.<\/p>\n
The House of Representatives submitted a revision to Law No.
\n34\/1999 on Jakarta's administration to the House of
\nRepresentatives' secretary-general Sitti Nurhajati Daud on
\nWednesday.<\/p>\n
In the proposed revised law, the gubernatorial election here
\nwould be conducted directly, instead of the current election
\nconducted by the city councillors.<\/p>\n
The gubernatorial election will be held on Sept. 17.<\/p>\n
Separately, council deputy chairman M. Suwardi, from the
\nNational Mandate Party (PAN) said that the House and the
\ngovernment lacked the \"political will\" for a direct gubernatorial
\nelection since the largest faction PDI Perjuangan and President
\nMegawati had nominated Sutiyoso for the next governor.<\/p>\n
Since Megawati and PDI Perjuangan have supported the
\nreelection of Sutiyoso, it would be unlikely that Megawati would
\nissue a presidential decree to appoint an acting governor to
\nreplace Sutiyoso, he said.<\/p>\n
The House's legislation body chairman Zein Badjeber said on
\nWednesday that the direct election could be conducted by at least
\nMay next year, after the law is revised in October.<\/p>\n
Zein said Megawati could appoint an acting governor, replacing
\nSutiyoso. The acting governor would be responsible for preparing
\nthe direct election.<\/p>\n
He said the direct gubernatorial election could be conducted
\nat the latest in 2007.<\/p>\n
Councillor Ahmad Heryawan, who is also chairman of the Justice
\nParty's city chapter, said the council would be ready for a
\ndirect election as soon as the regulations had been prepared.<\/p>\n
\"In principle, we are ready for a direct election, if the law
\nand regulations have been prepared,\" Heryawan told reporters.<\/p>\n
He said a governor who was elected through a direct election
\nwould be more legitimate than one chosen by 85 councillors.<\/p>\n
The next gubernatorial election will be decided by the
\ncouncillors, if existing regulations do not change.<\/p>\n
PDI Perjuangan has 30 seats in the council, the National
\nMandate Party 13 seats, the United Development Party 12 seats,
\nthe Indonesian Military (TNI)\/National Police faction nine seats,
\nthe Golkar Party eight seats and the remaining seats belong to
\nseveral smaller parties.<\/p>",
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