Only 1,600 pass KPU screening<\/p>\n
Moch. N. Kurniawan, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The General Elections Commission (KPU) announced on Tuesday that
\nonly 1,611 of 8,871 legislative candidates have passed the first
\nscreening, with none from, among others, the National Awakening
\nParty (PKB) and the Reform Star Party (PBR).<\/p>\n
A small number of legislative aspirants failed absolutely to
\npass KPU verification as they did not meet the minimum age
\nrequirement of 21, but the KPU did not provide any figures.<\/p>\n
The remaining aspirants who had did not meet requirements in
\nthe verification have been given an opportunity to complete the
\nrequired documentation by 4 p.m. on Jan. 19.<\/p>\n
KPU member in charge of legislative aspirant verification Anas
\nUrbaningrum said most candidates who did not pass the
\nadministrative screening failed to declare their wealth and
\nsubmit bills on their health status or crime records from the
\ncourt.<\/p>\n
"We have just completed the assessment on 21 of 24 parties
\nexcept for the Crescent Star Party (PBB), the Socialist
\nDemocratic Labor Party (PBSD) and Freedom Party (Partai Merdeka).
\nWe are still calculating the proportion of male and female
\ncandidates," Anas told a press conference.<\/p>\n
He said that during the extended period to complete required
\ndocumentation until Jan. 19, parties were banned from adding new
\nmale candidates but were allowed to nominate female candidates in
\nparticular electoral districts where they remained unable to
\ncomply with the 30 percent quota for women, as suggested by the
\nelection law.<\/p>\n
The KPU also warned parties against replacing candidates
\nunless the nominees had been disqualified.<\/p>\n
Parties are also prohibited from moving aspirants from one
\nelectoral district to another or adding to the original list of
\nlegislative candidates in an electoral district.<\/p>\n
There will be 69 electoral districts across the country
\noffering 550 House of Representatives seats in the general
\nelection in April. Some 145 million people are registered as
\neligible voters.<\/p>\n
The KPU will publicly announce the final list of legislative
\naspirants on Jan. 28 and Jan. 29.<\/p>\n
Earlier in the day, the Center for Electoral Reform (Cetro)
\nlashed out at parties for failing to meet their promise to raise
\nwomen's representation in the legislative bodies.<\/p>\n
Cetro director Smita Notosusanto said although some parties
\nmight have passed the minimum quota for women, female candidates
\nmight not be elected as they were ranked at the bottom.<\/p>\n
Cetro's conclusion was based on its analysis of four parties:
\nthe National Mandate Party (PAN), National Awakening Party (PKB),
\nUnited Development Party (PPP) and the Prosperous Justice Party
\n(PKS).<\/p>\n
Taking an example, Cetro said that among PAN women candidates,
\nwho account for 32 percent of its aspirants, only half were on
\ntop of the list. Over 29 percent of PKB candidates were women,
\nbut only 16.4 percent of them were ranked first or second.<\/p>\n
Smita also expressed disappointment at the KPU for not
\nannouncing an interim list of legislative candidates as this has
\nleft the public unable to scrutinize parties' commitment to
\nwomen's representation in the House.<\/p>\n
With such poor commitment, she said, the women's agenda,
\nincluding education, health, violence against women and women-
\ntrafficking, would not receive proper attention until the 2009
\nelection.<\/p>",
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