PDI-P allocates Rp 100b for campaign<\/p>\n
Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The ruling Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) has
\nestablished a Rp 100 billion (US$11.3 million) budget for the
\nupcoming elections campaign, with half of that budget earmarked
\nfor a media campaign.<\/p>\n
The party's treasurer, Noviantika Nasution, said, however, the
\nPDI-P could exceed its proposed budget because \"we cannot
\nprohibit people from giving more donations to the party\".<\/p>\n
PDI-P is the first among 24 political parties contesting the
\nApril general election to have announced its budget for the
\ncampaign.<\/p>\n
Noviantika said the money would be raised from the party's
\nlegislative candidates, as well as donations from members and
\nsupporters.<\/p>\n
\"Some Rp 50 billion of the money will be used to place
\nadvertisements and woo support through television, radio and
\nother media,\" Noviantika said at a media conference following a
\nweekly party meeting on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
She said that aside from cash, some party members might donate
\nT-shirts or other party symbols for the campaign.<\/p>\n
The campaign period for the legislative election will run from
\nMarch 11 through April 1, with balloting on April 5.<\/p>\n
Noviantika said the party would also cover the campaign costs
\nof chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri, who is also the President.<\/p>\n
\"With the extra security required for the President, we will
\nhave to charter a plane to ensure her mobility. But we are ready
\nto finance the campaign,\" Noviantika said.<\/p>\n
During the media conference, the party's deputy secretary-
\ngeneral, Pramono Anung Wibowo, said the Elections Supervisory
\nCommittee (Panwaslu) had ruled that the party had not violated
\nelection laws during a series of events marking its recent
\nanniversary.<\/p>\n
\"Panwaslu said that we did not violate the law by holding
\nparades and other activities to celebrate our party's
\nanniversary, as long as there were no speeches or activities
\naimed at wooing people's support,\" Pramono said.<\/p>\n
He said the letter, signed by Panwaslu chairman Komaruddin
\nHidayat, arrived on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
The party can now go ahead with its plan to hold more events
\nto celebrate its 31st anniversary.<\/p>\n
The Panwaslu office in Surakarta, Central Java, filed a police
\nreport accusing the party of violating election laws by gathering
\nmore than 50,000 people for a parade in the town last week.<\/p>\n
\"Since we are not guilty of any violations, we plan to hold
\nparades across the country on Feb. 18 as part of the party's
\nanniversary celebration,\" Pramono said.<\/p>\n
Previously, Panwaslu charged the United Development Party and
\nthe National Awakening Party with violating election laws in
\nconjunction with activities they held to mark their respective
\nanniversaries. Both parties were reported to the Jakarta Police.<\/p>",
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