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