KPU completes presidential media campaign ruling<\/p>\n
M. Taufiqurrahman, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The General Elections Commission (KPU) has completed a ruling on
\nthe presidential campaign, in a move to provide the candidates
\nmore media exposure and the public greater insight into their
\nplatforms.<\/p>\n
KPU deputy chairman Ramlan Surbakti said on Friday that the
\nbroader space should enable candidates to present their entire
\nplatform to the public, which is one of among many requirements
\nfor them. The presidential election is on July 5, with a likely
\nrunoff between the top two in September.<\/p>\n
\"For television ads, we have agreed to extend the duration
\nfrom 30 seconds to 90 seconds and to be aired five times during
\nthe prime time. This will enable candidates to present more
\ncomprehensive views on a variety of issues,\" Ramlan announced to
\nthe public on Friday.<\/p>\n
The new ruling also scraps the role of the Indonesian
\nBroadcasting Commission (KPI) to jointly supervise campaigning
\nwith the KPU in the electronic media, as they did ahead of the
\nApril 5 legislative elections. \"We'll still take their views into
\naccount, though,\" Ramlan said.<\/p>\n
The presidential Election Law says that the KPU is the only
\nparty authorized to regulate the presidential campaign.<\/p>\n
The campaign period runs from June 1 to July 1, with a one-day
\nbreak on June 3, when the nation observes the Buddhist holiday,
\nWaisak.<\/p>\n
The ruling, which takes effect on Saturday after the
\ncommission declares the eligible candidates, also stipulates
\ntough action against candidates who are found bribing potential
\nvoters.<\/p>\n
\"If the candidates or their campaign teams are proven in court
\nthat they practiced 'money politics', the KPU will disqualify
\nthem. And if it is their campaigners who are doing it, we will
\nstop that campaign,\" Ramlan said.<\/p>\n
However, he admitted that there could be a huge problem if the
\ncourt verdict was handed down long after a candidate has been
\ndeclared a winner. \"It could incite a riot stemming from voter
\ndiscontent,\" he noted.<\/p>\n
Six presidential candidates have registered with the KPU. They
\nare Gen. (ret) Wiranto and his running mate Solahuddin Wahid of
\nthe Golkar Party; Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Jusuf Kalla from
\nthe Democratic Party; Amien Rais and Siswono Yudhohusodo of the
\nNational Mandate Party; Hamzah Haz and Agum Gumelar of the United
\nDevelopment Party and Abdurrahman Wahid and Marwah Daud Ibrahim,
\nproposed by the National Awakening Party; and the incumbent
\nMegawati Soekarnoputri and her running mate Hasyim Muzadi,
\nregistered by the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-
\nP).<\/p>\n
A number of candidates have already begun running some
\ninformational ads. However, the KPU has turned a blind eye to
\nwhat some say is early campaigning, saying it has not yet
\ndeclared which of the candidates are eligible.<\/p>\n
Ramlan said new measures would be in place for the
\npresidential poll, learning from mistakes from last month's
\nlegislative election. The KPU has had to deal with many protests
\nand lawsuits have been filed against it for various problems in
\nthe preparation and conduct of the April poll and the tallying
\nthat followed.<\/p>\n
The measures, Ramlan said, would include public displays of
\nvote tabulation from the polling station level, methods to
\ninvalidate remaining ballot papers and the inclusion of more
\nsignatures from witnesses in the ballot counting reports.<\/p>\n
\"The measures are to guarantee that none of the votes will be
\nmanipulated and we can therefore have legitimate leaders who are
\nelected in a clean and transparent manner,\" Ramlan said.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/kpu-completes-presidential-media-campaign-ruling-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}