Direct gubernatorial elections OK, but not this time around: Sutiyoso
Direct gubernatorial elections OK, but not this time around: Sutiyoso
Ahmad Junaidi, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
City Governor Sutiyoso and several councillors agreed on Thursday
to the proposal for a direct gubernatorial election here, but
expressed doubts that it could be applied in the next election
due to time constraints and the lack of political will.
"I agree with a direct gubernatorial election, but do we have
enough time the prepare the law and regulations?" Sutiyoso told
reporters.
The House of Representatives submitted a revision to Law No.
34/1999 on Jakarta's administration to the House of
Representatives' secretary-general Sitti Nurhajati Daud on
Wednesday.
In the proposed revised law, the gubernatorial election here
would be conducted directly, instead of the current election
conducted by the city councillors.
The gubernatorial election will be held on Sept. 17.
Separately, council deputy chairman M. Suwardi, from the
National Mandate Party (PAN) said that the House and the
government lacked the "political will" for a direct gubernatorial
election since the largest faction PDI Perjuangan and President
Megawati had nominated Sutiyoso for the next governor.
Since Megawati and PDI Perjuangan have supported the
reelection of Sutiyoso, it would be unlikely that Megawati would
issue a presidential decree to appoint an acting governor to
replace Sutiyoso, he said.
The House's legislation body chairman Zein Badjeber said on
Wednesday that the direct election could be conducted by at least
May next year, after the law is revised in October.
Zein said Megawati could appoint an acting governor, replacing
Sutiyoso. The acting governor would be responsible for preparing
the direct election.
He said the direct gubernatorial election could be conducted
at the latest in 2007.
Councillor Ahmad Heryawan, who is also chairman of the Justice
Party's city chapter, said the council would be ready for a
direct election as soon as the regulations had been prepared.
"In principle, we are ready for a direct election, if the law
and regulations have been prepared," Heryawan told reporters.
He said a governor who was elected through a direct election
would be more legitimate than one chosen by 85 councillors.
The next gubernatorial election will be decided by the
councillors, if existing regulations do not change.
PDI Perjuangan has 30 seats in the council, the National
Mandate Party 13 seats, the United Development Party 12 seats,
the Indonesian Military (TNI)/National Police faction nine seats,
the Golkar Party eight seats and the remaining seats belong to
several smaller parties.