KPU fails to make time for electoral disputes<\/p>\n
Muninggar Sri Saraswati, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Owing to its tight schedule, the General Elections Commission
\n(KPU) has failed to allocate sufficient time for the
\nConstitutional Court to hear possible disputes in vote-counting
\nduring the presidential election, particularly after a possible
\nsecond round of voting.<\/p>\n
\"It is possible that disputes could occur more in the first
\nround. We don't anticipate them in the second round,\" Ramlan
\nSurbakti, KPU deputy chairman, told reporters on Monday.<\/p>\n
In accordance with the Law on Presidential Elections, the KPU
\nhas set the announcement date for results on Oct. 6 and the
\ninauguration on Oct. 20.<\/p>\n
Five presidential candidates are vying to win in the country's
\nfirst direct presidential election, to be held on July 5 with a
\npossible runoff between the top two on Sept. 20.<\/p>\n
Legislation on the presidential election and the
\nconstitutional court stipulate that the candidates have to file
\ncomplaints within three days after the results are announced and
\nthe Constitutional Court has to resolve the disputes within 14
\ndays.<\/p>\n
\"We really don't have time to set 14 days for the Court to
\nfinish possible cases. We hope they'll finish it in just a few
\ndays,\" said Ramlan.<\/p>\n
Campaign managers for all five candidates said last week that
\nthey were prepared to report possible violations to the
\nConstitutional Court.<\/p>\n
Each team has chosen a significant number of activists to
\nwitness the ballot-counting and to secure written documentation
\nfrom local KPU (KPUDs) about the results, which would be
\nimportant evidence in court.<\/p>\n
Most political parties lost their electoral lawsuits in the
\nwake of the April 5 legislative election due mostly to a lack of
\nfirm evidence.<\/p>\n
Going by the official timeline, the KPU has also not allocated
\nsufficient time for the Constitutional Court to settle possible
\ndisputes after the first round of the presidential election
\neither.<\/p>\n
KPU is set to announce the results of the first round on July
\n26 and the \"three-day\" election campaign for the second round is
\nslated to start on Aug. 14.<\/p>\n
\"We wouldn't have sufficient time for the printing and
\ndistribution of ballot papers for the second round because we
\nplan to start on Aug. 8 while, if we wait for the court they
\nwould not be obliged to finish until Aug. 12.<\/p>\n
\"Indeed, it is very hard to conduct three elections in a
\nyear,\" Ramlan said.<\/p>\n
Constitutional Court chief Jimly Asshidiqie has said that KPU
\nhas failed to allot sufficient time for the court to settle
\npossible electoral disputes during the presidential election.<\/p>\n
\"We must talk about it carefully because it may affect the
\nlegitimacy of the elected president. People tend to be more
\nemotional during the presidential election. They will do their
\nbest to win the race,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The Constitutional Court, Jimly explained, is expected to
\ninvite the KPU and the government representatives to settle the
\nproblem this week.<\/p>\n
The Constitutional Court received as many as 273 complaints
\nfiled by 23 of the 24 political parties participating in the
\nApril 5 legislative election.<\/p>",
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