Election screening deadline for legislator candidates extended
Election screening deadline for legislator candidates extended
JAKARTA (JP): The government yesterday was forced to extend
the period of administrative screening of prospective legislators
because a number of candidates had failed to submit the necessary
documents on time, an official said.
"The screening process is not yet completed. We have decided
to extend the process until Nov. 30," deputy spokesman for the
General Elections Institute Zumaidy said, reported Antara
yesterday.
National Screening Committee chairman Sutoyo N.K. had
announced that a number of candidates have not completed the
screening documents, said Zumaidy.
The screening period for prospective members of the House of
Representatives (DPR), and provincial and municipal legislative
councils started on Sept. 17 and should have ended yesterday.
Prospective House members are screened by the Institute, while
candidates for provincial and municipal legislative councils are
screened by the provincial office of the General Election
Institute and the municipal General Election Institute.
The national screening committee comprises 17 people from the
Home Affairs Ministry, the General Election Institute and the
Internal Security Agency (Bakorstanas). Every provincial and
municipal screening committee is made up of nine people from the
local administration and the provincial Internal Security Agency
(Bakorstanasda).
Nov. 30 had been previously scheduled as the final deadline
for each of the three political groupings -- the dominant Golkar,
the United Development Party (PPP) and the Indonesian Democratic
Party (PDI) -- to argue the merit of candidates, and make any
necessary changes to their lists of prospective legislators.
All eligible Indonesians will cast their votes next May to
elect members to the House and legislative council.
Zumaidy said the institute is still unable to say exactly how
many prospective legislators have passed the screening process,
how many are still being evaluated, how many are yet to be
screened and how many have been rejected.
"Just be patient. We will announce the figures when
evaluations are completed," he said. (imn)