Government issues decree allowing delay in regional elections<\/p>\n
Muninggar Sri Saraswati, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The government issued on Wednesday a government regulation in
\nlieu of law (Perppu) that will enable the postponement of direct
\nregional elections for regents, mayors and governors.<\/p>\n
Due to poor preparation, some regions are not ready to hold
\nthe unprecedented direct elections, scheduled to start in June.<\/p>\n
The government also issued a regulation to revise Government
\nRegulation No. 6\/2004 on the election and inauguration of
\nregional leaders, following the recent annulment of some articles
\nand sections of paragraphs of Law No. 32\/2004 on regional
\nadministration, the legal basis of the direct regional elections,
\nby the Constitutional Court.<\/p>\n
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono signed Government
\nRegulation in Lieu of Law No. 3\/2005 on revision of Law No.
\n32\/2004 and Government Regulation No. 17\/2005 on revision of
\nGovernment Regulation No. 6\/2004 earlier in the day. The new
\nregulations were effective on their day of issuance.<\/p>\n
State Secretary Yusril Ihza Mahendra said the regulation in
\nlieu of law was issued in anticipation of the possible
\npostponement of regional elections due to natural disasters,
\nsecurity problems or other disruptions, including a lack of
\nfunds, logistical materials and election committee personnel,
\nwhich are not stipulated in the 2004 law.<\/p>\n
\"We issued the Perppu due to the tight deadline and the fact
\nthat the House of Representatives is in recess,\" Yusril said.<\/p>\n
Generally, a Perppu is issued in an emergency. If the House
\ndoes not respond to the regulation within a month it is
\nconsidered to have accepted it.<\/p>\n
The House will sit on Monday.<\/p>\n
The government has announced that 215 elections for mayors and
\nregents and 11 elections for governors will be held between June
\nand July.<\/p>\n
The government of President Megawati Soekarnoputri issued a
\nPerppu last year that enabled a delay in the April legislative
\nelections in regions due to natural disasters or disruption in
\nthe supply of ballot papers and boxes. The General Elections
\nCommission (KPU) failed at that time to meet the deadline it set
\nfor delivery of election logistical materials in many regions.<\/p>\n
The new Perppu also spells out the central government's
\nsupport to ensure the success of the regional elections and
\nrevises an earlier regulation on the maximum number of voters a
\npolling station can accommodate from 300 to 600.<\/p>\n
Yusril said the new Perppu did not stipulate a procedure for
\nindependent candidates to contest the regional election nor the
\naccountability of the local elections commission (KPUD).<\/p>\n
\"That does not need to be regulated. Before being amended by
\nthe Constitutional Court, Law No. 32\/2004 said independent
\ncandidates could only contest under the banner of political
\nparties, but now they don't have to. Let KPUDs register eligible
\ncandidates as long as they meet the requirements set by the
\nlaw,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The Perppu does not regulate the accountability of KPUDs
\neither, although the Constitutional Court said the regional
\nbodies are answerable to the KPU.<\/p>\n
\"Maybe, (the KPUDs are accountable) to God. But, they must
\ninform the local legislatures and the public,\" Yusril said.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/government-issues-decree-allowing-delay-in-regional-elections-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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