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.