Gubernatorial candidates to be screened in camera
Gubernatorial candidates to be screened in camera
Ahmad Junaidi, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
After being criticized for discriminating against some
gubernatorial candidates, a number of the City Council's factions
are inviting candidates for governor and vice governor to attend
closed-door screening meetings to explain their policies and
visions for the capital.
The National Mandate Party (PAN) faction began screening
candidates on Wednesday.
"Due to the small room, we decided that the meetings are
closed," faction member Wasilah Sutrisno said before meeting with
one gubernatorial candidate, City Secretary Fauzi Bowo.
Wasilah said her faction, the second-largest in the council
with 13 seats, decided to give all of the candidates the
opportunity to discuss their ideas and visions for the city.
For three days, the councillors will quiz candidates about a
wide range of topics, including how to handle the problems of
garbage, poverty and transportation in the city.
The current governor, Sutiyoso, becak (pedicab) driver
Rasdullah and Deputy Governor for Social Welfare Affairs Djailani
are among the candidates who will be invited to meet with the
faction on Thursday.
Wasilah said the faction would invite all candidates to take
part in the screening process, including those who do not meet
all of the requirements laid out in the regulation on
gubernatorial elections. This includes Rasdullah, who does not
meet the requirement that a gubernatorial candidate must have at
least a high school education.
"We will tell them that they do not fulfill the requirements
after the meeting," she said.
Not all of the factions plan to screen every candidate.
The Justice Party has issued invitations to only 10
candidates, the Indonesian Military/Police faction 65 candidates
and the former ruling Golkar Party 42 candidates.
It is still unclear whether the Indonesian Democratic Party of
Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) will screen any of the candidates. The
party's central board has already nominated Sutiyoso as its sole
gubernatorial candidate. This decision revealed rifts in the
party, with some members refusing to accede to the central
board's wishes and support Sutiyoso.
It is unclear whether the United Development Party (PPP),
which has also thrown its weight behind Sutiyoso, will screen the
candidates.
PDI Perjuangan, which is chaired by President Megawati
Soekarnoputri, is the largest faction in the council with 30
seats, while PPP has 12 seats, making it the council's third-
largest faction.
Dani Anwar of the Justice Party said his faction had asked to
meet with 10 candidates, who were chosen based on criteria
established at an earlier party meeting.
"We invited candidates who are Betawi (native Jakartans) and
have a high degree of intelligence and morality," Dani said on
Wednesday.
Among the 10 candidates that will be given the opportunity to
meet with the faction are former state minister of women's
empowerment Tuti Alawiyah, Fauzi Bowo, Djailani and former
legislator Ridwan Saidi.
Dani said his party had decided not to meet with Sutiyoso, who
is a former Jakarta Military commander, and council chairman Maj.
Gen. Edy Waluyo because of their military backgrounds.
"We are committed to civil supremacy, which is the spirit of
the reform movement," he said.
According to the regulations on gubernatorial elections, the
11 factions on the council will select 22 pairs of gubernatorial
and vice gubernatorial candidates. These candidates will then be
asked to attend a plenary session of the council to explain their
policies and visions. The session will be open to the public.