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)