KPU begins to screen political parties

KPU begins to screen political parties

Moch. N. Kurniawan, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The General Elections Commission (KPU) began screening political
parties on Friday to decide whether or not they could contest the
2004 elections.

KPU member Anas Urbaningrum said the commission would carry
out administrative screening on 40 of 50 parties that had
registered with KPU. The commission has to finish the
verification within one week.

Six parties -- the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle
(PDI Perjuangan), Golkar, the United Development Party (PPP),
National Awakening Party (PKB), National Mandate Party (PAN) and
the Crescent Star Party (PBB) -- would no longer be verified that
means "not verified ever again." Is "not be verified" meant? as
they already passed the two percent electoral threshold in the
1999 elections, while four others were already verified earlier.

"We will begin party screening with the principle of first
come, first served.

"We have formed six sub-working groups to verify all parties,
with one sub-working group screening six to seven parties," Anas
said on Friday.

Of the 40 parties, the United National Democratic Party (PDK),
Indonesian Democratic Catholic Party (PKDI), New Indonesia
Alliance Party (Partai PIB) and the Democratic Party are at the
top of the list.

In the week-long administrative screening, KPU will check the
parties' administrative requirements, which include party
documents on the location and leadership of its branch offices in
21 provinces and in two-thirds of the total
regencies/municipalities in 21 provinces, a letter from the
Ministry of Justice and Human Rights on the legality of a party,
and party logo.

Parties that manage to pass the administrative screening will
undergo factual verification by provincial, regency or municipal
election commissions.

If a party fails to fulfill one of the administrative
requirements, it will be given an additional week to meet them.

After the party hands in its completed documents, KPU will
then re-verify the party document within a maximum of one week
and decide whether or not the party can go to factual
verification.

This will include a field check of the location of a party's
branch offices in 21 provinces and in two-thirds of the total
regencies/municipalities in 21 provinces and a field verification
of 10 percent of the party membership that has over 100 people in
a regency/municipality.

If KPU discovers shortcomings, the commission will give the
party three days to meet the requirements.

KPU will recheck the improvements made by the party, but if
the commission still finds flaws, it will declare that the party
has failed to pass the factual verification.

Prior to the administrative verification, KPU carried out
administrative screening on four parties, namely the Nation
Concern not Concerned Nation? Party (PKPB), Reform Star Party
(PBR), Indonesian Union Party (PSI) and the Indonesian Justice
and Unity Party (PKPI).

Only PSI had to undergo additional administrative verification
due to its failure to satisfy the minimum branch offices
requirement in 21 provinces.

The screening process will last until Nov. 20, and KPU plans
to announce the final verification result on Dec. 2.

Indonesia will hold the legislative election on April 5, and
two-stage presidential elections on July 5 and Sept. 20
respectively.