Govt prepares chapter on direct presidential elections

Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The government has drafted an additional chapter on direct presidential elections to be incorporated into the general elections bill.

Minister of Home Affairs Hari Sabarno said on Saturday he would seek the House of Representatives' approval of the extra chapter.

He said the chapter on direct presidential elections was part of the original government-sponsored bill on general elections, but was dropped pending the constitutional amendments that were only completed last week, paving the way for direct presidential elections.

"Now we have to discuss with the House whether we have to submit the additional chapter or draft a separate bill on presidential elections," Hari said after attending Independence Day celebrations at the Presidential Palace.

The government has forwarded to the House bills on general elections and political parties. Deliberation of the two draft bills is expected to commence on Aug. 22.

Direct presidential elections will be implemented in 2004, thanks to the constitutional amendments finalized by the People's Consultative Assembly earlier this month.

But there has been a great deal of debate over the necessity of a separate bill on presidential elections.

"Either way, the government is ready to submit the regulation, which we have already prepared. We just have to wait for further discussion with the House," the minister said.

He underlined that the government was heeding calls to submit the regulation immediately, in order to facilitate the work of the General Elections Commission in preparing for the 2004 elections.

Hari refused to go into detail when asked about the additional chapter on direct presidential elections.

Earlier on Friday, House Speaker Akbar Tandjung said the body would prioritize the deliberation of the two political bills during its current session.