Direct presidential election

Direct presidential election

From Kompas

The present national political development is rather
discouraging because of the ongoing conflict between the
President and the House of Representatives. The House has issued
memorandums of censure in its attempt to unseat President
Abdurrahman Wahid while the President will do everything to
maintain his position until 2004. Is there a solution which
entails the lowest risk to settle this deep-seated conflict?

My suggestion is that the General Elections Commission (KPU)
should take the initiative to hold a general election, maybe in
2002 or 2004. This election, involving all the existing parties
in the country, will allow the people to directly elect a new
president. It will be like a dual election as the voter will cast
a ballot for his choice of president and also party. As for
presidential nominees, the number must be limited to two only.
Hopefully, in this way, the new president will be truly
legitimate, and the interest of the parties will continue to be
represented in the House.

TAMIM BASUNI

Pekalongan, Central Java