'Govt's election model needs modification'<\/p>\n
Kurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The electoral system outlined by the government is considered the
\nmost applicable for the 2004 elections, although modifications
\nare needed to enable voters to clearly understand the new scheme,
\nexperts say.<\/p>\n
\"In general terms, the model proposed by the home ministry is
\nbetter than the others, but it needs some adjustments to minimize
\ntechnical constraints,\" political scientist Syamsuddin Haris from
\nthe Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI) told a discussion
\nhere on Thursday.<\/p>\n
Hadar N. Gumay from the Center for Electoral Reform (Cetro)
\nconcurred, said that the government's model would ensure direct
\nrepresentation of the people who had voted for each individual
\nlegislator, and hopefully ensure better accountability.<\/p>\n
Syamsuddin and Hadar were commenting on the electoral bill
\ncurrently being deliberated in the House of Representatives that
\ncould adopt a combination of a proportional system with an open-
\nlist of candidates.<\/p>\n
All factions at the House of Representatives (DPR) have agreed
\nto adopt the proportional system with an open-list of candidates.
\nUnder the new system, voters will directly choose their
\ncandidates, instead of political parties.<\/p>\n
The House, however, has not reached an agreement on the
\ntechnicalities of the new system.<\/p>\n
The home affairs ministry proposed that the electoral zone
\nshould cover a province or parts of a province. Political parties
\nare allowed to nominate two candidates for each legislative seat
\non offer.<\/p>\n
Under this system, people vote for a political party and
\ncandidates up to the number of seats contested.<\/p>\n
Analysts said that although applicable, this system contained
\ndifficulties during ballot-counting.<\/p>\n
Apart from the government, the Indonesian Democratic Party of
\nStruggle (PDI Perjuangan) and Golkar Party have proposed their
\nown models.<\/p>\n
PDI Perjuangan's model allows political parties to nominate as
\nmany candidates as there are seats.<\/p>\n
Under this model, people could vote for a political party
\nand\/or write the name of their legislative candidates they
\nprefer. If people elect only political parties, they give the
\npower back to the parties to determine each legislator.<\/p>\n
The faction proposes that an electoral zone cover an entire
\nprovince, a proposal considered by analysts as too large.<\/p>\n
Hadar said the system offered by PDI Perjuangan would not
\nensure direct representation by legislators for their
\nconstituents, thus was undemocratic.<\/p>\n
Golkar's model allows political parties to nominate twice as
\nmany candidates as seats in each province.<\/p>\n
Under this system, people would vote for political parties and
\nthe legislative candidate on the same ballot.<\/p>\n
The party suggested that the electoral zone cover a regency or
\nmunicipality.<\/p>\n
According to Hadar, the Golkar model would ensure
\nrepresentation of constituents, but would be difficult for the
\nelection committee when it came to counting the votes.<\/p>",
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