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.