Election commission introduces eligible legislative candidates

Election commission introduces eligible legislative candidates

Moch. N. Kurniawan, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The General Elections Commission (KPU) issued on Thursday a list
of 7,786 legislative candidates eligible to contest the polls,
one week behind the original schedule.

There were some corrections made to the list as the commission
had declared 7,756 aspirants qualified for the April general
election last week.

KPU member Anas Urbaningrum, chairman of legislative
candidates verification, said the difference in the number of
eligible aspirants was caused by a miscalculation.

"Previously we thought some aspirants deserved a C mark, but
it turned out they should have got a B," he said.

There will be 550 House of Representatives seats up for grabs
in the general election.

According to the list, a number of public figures will compete
in the same electoral district.

President Megawati Soekarnoputri's husband Taufik Kiemas,
nominated by the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P)
as number one candidate in West Java electoral district 2, will
face deputy secretary-general of the Crescent Star Party (PBB)
M.S. Kaban and the current House of Representatives legislator
Paskah Suzetta from Golkar.

Political analyst Andi Mallarangeng, who is the deputy
chairman of the United Democratic Nationhood Party (PDK) and the
number one candidate of the party for Jakarta electoral district
1 will take on legislator Suryadarma Ali of the United
Development Party (PPP), economist Dradjad Hari Wibowo of the
National Mandate Party (PAN), secretary-general of the Prosperous
Justice Party (PKS) Muhammad Anis Matta, business analyst A.B.
Susanto of the National Awakening Party (PKB) and Golkar's
deputy chairman Agung Laksono.

The Reform Star Party (PBR) chairman Zaenuddin M.Z., whose
original name is Zainuddin Hamidy, will lock horns with Hamdan
Zoelva of PBB and Golkar's deputy chairman Fahmi Idris.

A number of artists also passed the KPU screening, including
Rieke Dyah Pitaloka of PKB in West Java electoral district 4,
Nurul Arifin of Golkar in West Java electoral district 3, Marissa
Haque of PDI-P in West Java electoral district 2, Slamet Rahardjo
Djarot of the Freedom Bull National Party (PNBK) in West Java
electoral district 2, and Yusuf Macan Effendi or Dede Yusuf of
PAN in West Java electoral district 9.

Anas said five candidates were dropped from the list as one
had died, others had pulled out while another was listed as
candidates in more than one district.

Mohammad Deen Amein of PAN had died.

Margaret Pardede Gauthama of New Indonesia Alliance Party
(PPIB), Ernie Supriati of Concern for the Nation Functional Party
(PKPB) and Irawady Joenoes of PAN dropped out.

Anak Agung Ngurah Oka Gunawan of the Regional United Party
(PPD) was removed from the list of legislative aspirants because
he had also been registered as a candidate for Bali provincial
legislature.

However, the final list may change because as of 9:05 p.m. KPU
had not completed the recheck of list of candidates in six
electoral districts.