Banjarnegara election voided

BANJARNEGARA, Central Java: The Banjarnegara Council on Friday decided to annul the results of their own regency elections following a wave of public protests which accused councillors of being swayed by money politics.

The council in a plenary session decided to reverse the election of its mayor and regent and hold a new vote.

Council speaker Sri Ruwiyati said the decision was taken after it was deemed that the election had violated regulation No 151/2000 on the election of a regent and mayor.

The regulation stipulates that every faction in the council can only have one tandem pairing of a regent and deputy regent.

During the April 12 election the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) faction had two pairings in which its councillor, Mardjono, was nominated as regent in both.

During the election, Mardjono was defeated as regent by Djasri of the United Islamic Party Faction.

There was no comment from the elected regent Djasri on Friday. (45)