Political parties granted Rp 500m each for election<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The three political parties contesting the May
\n29 general election were given Rp 500 million (US$ 206,782) each
\nyesterday to finance their campaigns.<\/p>\n
The funding -- for the dominant Golkar, the Moslem-based
\nUnited Development Party (PPP) and the nationalist-Christian
\nalliance Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) -- was delivered by
\nMinister of Home Affairs Moch. Yogie S.M. at a ceremony at the
\nministry yesterday.<\/p>\n
This year's election funding is twice the sum given to the
\nthree parties for the 1992 general election. Each received Rp 250
\nmillion then.<\/p>\n
Yogie also announced yesterday an increase in the government's
\nmonthly subsidy to the parties, from Rp 7.5 million to Rp 25
\nmillion.<\/p>\n
The minister, who also chairs the General Elections Institute
\nand the General Elections Committee which is organizing the 1997
\ngeneral election, said he realized the amount was far less than
\nthe contestants needed. He suggested the three parties seek
\nadditional funding from other sources.<\/p>\n
\"That's all the government can give. I hope the government
\nfunding will stimulate a further flow of funding from other
\nsources,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The two minority parties, PPP and PDI, said they were
\ndisappointed with the amount.<\/p>\n
PPP's secretary-general Tosari Wijaya said it was far less
\nthan expected.<\/p>\n
\"We expected Rp 1 billion (US$ 413,565),\" he said after the
\nceremony marking the funding transfer.<\/p>\n
The PPP needed another Rp 2.7 billion, he said.<\/p>\n
PDI chairman Soerjadi said the amount did not even come close
\nto the party's estimated spending up until the general election.<\/p>\n
\"We need Rp 20 billion to finance our activities, from
\nelection preparation up to election day,\" he said. \"We asked for
\nRp 2 billion, but got only Rp 500 million.\"<\/p>\n
Soerjadi said, that apart from the newly received funding, the
\nPDI had less than Rp 500 million at hand to cover election
\nspending.<\/p>\n
On whether the PDI would ask for additional funding from the
\ngovernment, Soerjadi said: \"It would be better if not to ask for
\nadditional funding if it means begging for pity from the
\ngovernment.\"<\/p>\n
Separately, political expert Indria Samego of the National
\nInstitute of Sciences suggested yesterday regulations be
\nestablished for the mobilization of funding for each political
\ncontestant.<\/p>\n
\"Political parties are always dependent on the government when
\nthey organize congresses and seminars, or when they take part in
\ngeneral elections,\" Indria said as quoted by Antara yesterday.<\/p>\n
\"It is, therefore, difficult for the political contestants,
\nespecially the PPP and the PDI, to get supporters and provide
\npolitical education for the people,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The three political contestants will compete in the election
\nfor 425 of the 500 seats in the House of Representatives. The
\nremaining 75 seats will be allocated to the Armed Forces, whose
\nmembers do not vote.<\/p>\n
The General Elections Institute announced yesterday the Final
\nList of Legislative Candidates for the general election. It had
\neight names less than the Provisional List of Legislative
\nCandidates.<\/p>\n
Four of the eight candidates dropped from the list were from
\nthe PPP; the others were from Golkar.<\/p>\n
Three of the PPP candidates -- Abdul Hamid of West Java,
\nMochammad Anwar Nurris of East Java and Saiful Ahmad Haulusy --
\ndied. The other candidate, Yudo Paripurno, withdrew from the
\nrace.<\/p>\n
Golkar's secretary general Ary Mardjono said two Golkar
\ncandidates -- Achmad Pawennei of South Sulawesi and Wahyono of
\nWest Nusa Tenggara -- withdrew. The other two candidates -- Abdul
\nRani Ramelan and Mochtar Abdul Kadir, both from East Java -- were
\ndropped for various reasons.<\/p>\n
Golkar now has 825 candidates, PPP 720 candidates, while PDI
\nstill has 744 candidates for the House.<\/p>\n
The final list of legislative candidates will be formally
\ndistributed to the public today. (imn)<\/p>\n
Votes -- Page 2<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/political-parties-granted-rp-500m-each-for-election-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }