Election funds 'won't be cut'

Election funds 'won't be cut'

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Minister of Home Affairs M. Ma'ruf said that the central
government would not reduce the state budget allocation for
regional elections from the proposed figure of Rp 1.25 trillion
(US$135.87 million) despite rejection from some lawmakers.

"There will be no reduction in the budget for the regional
elections," the minister announced on Monday on after meeting
with a group of regents.

He acknowledged that the House of Representatives state budget
commission had only approved a budget of Rp 929 billion, but
added that his office would continue discussions with the
lawmakers to increase that.

At least 215 regional administrations -- provinces, regencies
and municipalities -- are expected to hold direct elections for
their executive leaders in June. They will be the first direct
regional elections in the country and represent an important step
in democratization process here. The central government will
assist the regions in financing the elections.

But some experts and officials have earlier demanded the
central government delay the elections due to various problems.

The East Java Provincial Election Commission, for example,
said some regencies and municipalities in the province only had
one candidate standing in the elections, which was contrary to
Law No. 32/2004 on local government.

Another problem was the uncertainty as regards how much money
the central government would allocate to the regions for the
holding of the elections as the House has yet to approve the
allocation. Any further delay in disbursing the funds could
disrupt the electoral process in the regions, analysts have
warned.

However, Ma'ruf said that to this point, his office had not
received an official demand from any local administration about a
delay.

"More than 45 regions have set up their election schedules.
And that indicates that the regions are ready to implement the
elections," he said.