New Buleleng regent install after 45-day delay<\/p>\n
I Wayan Juniartha, The Jakarta Post, Singaraja, Bali<\/p>\n
Amid a tight security cordon of some 1,500 police officers, the
\nBuleleng Legislative Council installed on Friday Putu Bagiada and
\nhis running mate Gede Wardhana as regent and vice regent of
\nBuleleng regency.<\/p>\n
The inauguration ceremony put an end to 45 days of political
\nuncertainty and turmoil, which began on regency election day, May
\n7, when legislative council speaker Komang Sudharmaja Duniaji
\nrefused to accept the result of the election, and froze the whole
\nelection process over alleged irregularities.<\/p>\n
Sudharmaja, who also ran for the post of Buleleng regent along
\nwith running mate Sudiana, and had been fully backed by
\nIndonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan)
\nexecutives at both provincial and national levels, suffered a
\ntragic and humiliating defeat at the election.<\/p>\n
The pair managed to secure only 18 votes, although PDI
\nPerjuangan controls 31 seats on the 45-seat legislative council.
\nMeanwhile, its rival, the Bagiada-Wardhana pair, won 25 votes.<\/p>\n
After freezing the election process, Sudharmaja carried out
\nmaneuvers apparently designed to eliminate Bagiada's chances of
\nbecoming the elected regent, including the revelation that
\nBagiada was once dismissed from a state-owned bank over alleged
\ncredit manipulation. He also tried to have several PDI Perjuangan
\ncouncillors fired, accusing them of having sided with Bagiada's
\ncamp in the election.<\/p>\n
However, Friday's council decision to legalize the election
\nresult has clearly shown that most council members have already
\nhad enough of Sudharmaja's maneuvers and are determined to
\nproceed with the installation ceremony with or without the
\nconsent of council Speaker Sudharmaja.<\/p>\n
Friday's session, attended by 29 councillors, including 17
\nfrom the PDI Perjuangan faction, was chaired by council deputy
\nspeaker Widnjana Dangin, as Sudharmaja did not show up at the
\nsession.<\/p>\n
\"The fact that a PDI Perjuangan candidate lost the election
\nis, in my opinion, not surprising, as there hasn't been a unified
\nstance over his (Sudharmaja's) candidacy between party members,
\neither,\" PDI Perjuangan member Widnjana said after the session.<\/p>\n
The division within PDI Perjuangan reflected the growing rift
\nbetween Sudharmaja and PDI Perjuangan councillors. Rumors were
\nrife that the party's councillors planned to unseat Sudharmaja
\nfrom the council's leading position.<\/p>\n
The situation in and around the Buleleng capital of Singaraja
\nwas relatively normal during and after the council session.<\/p>\n
\"However, we don't want to take any chances. I've ordered my
\nmen to stay on alert and we'll continue with security
\narrangements for several more days, just in case,\" Buleleng
\nPolice chief Adj. Sr. Comr. M. Syafei said.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/new-buleleng-regent-install-after-45-day-delay-1447893297",
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