Govt prepares chapter on direct presidential elections

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.