Govt softens political party general election requirements

Govt softens political party general election requirements

JAKARTA (JP): The government and the House of Representatives
agreed on Wednesday to ease requirements for existing political
parties to contest the general election scheduled for next June
7.

Abu Hasan Sazili, who chairs the House's Special Committee
currently deliberating the political bills, said parties could
contest the poll if they had chapters in nine of the country's 27
provinces, and branches in at least half of the 243 regencies.

Previously, the bill on general elections stipulated that
parties had to have chapters in 14 provinces before they could
contest elections.

"The requirements have been relaxed because most political
parties are new and have yet to establish their networks in
regions," he announced after attending the working committee's
session here on Wednesday.

With the new stance, more political parties are expected to be
able to contest the next general election, he added.

Abu said, however, that for general elections after next
year's, all parties would be required to have chapters in at
least half of the provinces and branches in at least half of the
regencies.

The committee also dropped a stipulation in the bill that
political parties unable to meet the requirement would have to
compensate by providing at least one million supporters'
signatures.

Meanwhile, the working committee which deliberated the draft
law on political parties agreed to prohibit parties from
receiving foreign assistance to ensure their independence.

"Political parties' financial sources will be from their
members' dues, the state budget and aid from individuals and
local businesspeople," said Yahya Zamais, a member of the working
committee from the Golkar faction.

This Thursday, the House's Working Committee was expected to
deliberate a number of crucial issues whose deliberation was
postponed by the Special Committee.

Among the crucial issues are those on civil servants, Armed
Forces (ABRI) representatives in the legislative body, the
frequency of People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) general
sessions and the legal basis of political parties.

Budi Harsono of ABRI said his faction would take a flexible
stance on the number of ABRI representatives in the House.

"We will not insist on (having) 55 seats in the lower House.
What's important is that ABRI will not have to be a minority in
the House like PDI," he said.

"If the number of commissions at the House is 10, ABRI
representatives should be at least 21: one deputy speaker and two
on each commission," he said. (rms)