Late parties receive kind treatment from KPU<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The General Election Commission (KPU) on
\nWednesday relaxed its own rules and allowed two parties to run
\nfor House of Representatives (DPR) seats despite missing
\nTuesday's midnight deadline for submitting lists of legislative
\ncandidates.<\/p>\n
Commission chairman Rudini said: \"The Indonesian Christian
\nNationalist Party (Krisna) and the Indonesian Muslim Awakening
\nParty (Kami) have been included despite the fact that they were a
\nfew hours late...We cannot just ditch people's aspirations,
\nespecially in this era.\"<\/p>\n
Krisna and Kami reportedly submitted their legislative lists
\nat around 3 a.m. on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
\"I take responsibility for this decision. The two (parties)
\nwere not that late and we have a moral obligation not to curtail
\ntheir right just like that,\" he said.<\/p>\n
\"In the current political situation, the KPU cannot be too
\nstrict with its rules. Sometimes we have to be flexible,\" Rudini
\nadded.<\/p>\n
Rudini said on Tuesday that his office would not tolerate late
\nsubmission of the lists.<\/p>\n
Krisna listed 110 candidates from 18 provinces, while Kami
\nsubmitted 75 candidates from 20 provinces. Their documents were
\nreceived at 3 a.m. by security guards at the KPU office.<\/p>\n
By midnight on Tuesday, 46 out of the 48 parties eligible to
\njoin the June 7 poll had submitted the lists of legislative
\ncandidates for House of Representatives (DPR) 462 seats.<\/p>\n
The popular Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI
\nPerjuangan) registered only 164 candidates from 10 provinces,
\nwhile the United Development Party (PPP) submitted 636 nominees
\nfrom 25 provinces.<\/p>\n
The National Elections Committee (PPI) has decided to allow
\nparties to submit additional names of legislative candidates
\nalong with necessary documents up until May 9.<\/p>\n
\"Parties will be allowed to add or remove the names of
\ncandidates until shortly before the list of legislative
\ncandidates is announced on May 12,\" PPI chairman Jacob Tobing,
\nwho also represents the PDI Perjuangan on the KPU, said.<\/p>\n
Asked whether PDI Perjuangan was facing difficulties finding
\npotential candidates, Jacob simply said: \"No...No problem. And
\nthere's no friction in our party, either.\"<\/p>\n
Later on Wednesday, however, the party submitted a list of
\nlegislative candidates for the remaining 17 provinces marked with
\nsignificant changes.<\/p>\n
The party's popular chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri will not
\nstand in South Jakarta as previously expected, but will instead
\nbe nominated for Bandung in West Java.<\/p>\n
Asked to comment, PDI Perjuangan leader Mangara Siahaan simply
\nreplied: \"Ask Ibu Megawati about the matter.\"<\/p>\n
PDI Perjuangan figures who will run from Jakarta include Roy
\nB.B. Janis, Kwik Kian Gie, Sabam Sirait and Aberson Sihaloho.<\/p>\n
Political activist Pius Lustrilanang will run in Bogor and
\nbusinessman Arifin Panigoro in Tangerang.<\/p>\n
In East Java, Megawati's younger brother Guruh Soekarnoputra
\nwill run from Blitar regency along with Roeslan Abulgani and
\nHaryanto Taslam in Surabaya, while noted law professor Dimyati
\nHartono will run from Central Java.<\/p>\n
Separately, as of 8p.m. on Tuesday, 36 political parties had
\nsubmitted lists of nominees for the provincial legislature in the
\nCentral Java capital of Semerang.<\/p>\n
They included the People's Sovereignty Party (PDR), the
\nIndonesian Workers Party (PPI), the Marhaenist Indonesian
\nNational Party and the National Awakening Party (PKB).<\/p>\n
In South Sulawesi, residents of Polmas have been angered by
\nthe inclusion of Nurdin Halid on the list of potential candidates
\nfor the local regency legislature. Nurdin, who will stand for
\nGolkar, was recently controversially exonerated in a multi-
\nbillion-rupiah fraud case involving the use of cooperative funds.<\/p>\n
In Palu, Central Sulawesi, Golkar Party chairman Akbar
\nTandjung reiterated that incumbent President B.J. Habibie is
\nstill the ruling party's strongest presidential candidate.<\/p>\n
\"I've been traveling across the country. Golkar is the biggest
\nparty and so far Habibie has received the most support,\" Akbar
\nboasted. (edt\/har\/27\/44\/38\/)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/late-parties-receive-kind-treatment-from-kpu-1447893297",
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