Court to speed up verdict on poll case

Court to speed up verdict on poll case

JAKARTA: The Constitutional Court said on Wednesday it is
slated to issue a verdict on the judicial review of Law No.
32/2004 on the direct elections of regional administration heads
on March 22.

The issuance of the verdict had originally been scheduled for
March 23, the court's media center added.

The judicial review was requested by 15 provincial elections
commissions (KPUD) and the Center for Electoral Reform (Cetro),
which say some articles of the law are against the amended 1945
Constitution.

For example, the plaintiffs cited Article 66 (3e) that
authorizes the KPUD to organize the direct elections of regents,
mayors or governors but requires it to account to local
legislative councils (DPRD)s.

This could reduce the partiality and independence of the KPUD
which was established by the national General Elections
Commission (KPU), they argued.

They added that the special authority for the KPUD would also
disrupt the hierarchy and coordination of polls. --Antara