KPU completes ballot count
Moch. N. Kurniawan, Jakarta
The General Elections Commission (KPU) wrapped up on Tuesday the manual ballot counting for the House of Representatives members, after which two parties decided to file lawsuits with the Constitutional Court over the results in East Java electoral district 10 and West Irian Jaya respectively.
KPU member Rusadi Kantaprawira, chairman of the manual ballot counting, said the commission would announce the results and the seats of parties in the House, the Regional Representatives Council (DPD), provincial legislatures (DPRD I) and regental/municipal legislatures (DPRD II).
"Tomorrow we will learn which party got 3 percent of the seats in the House or 5 percent of the vote as the minimum requirement to nominate presidential and vice presidential candidates," Rusadi said.
He was speaking to reporters after a limited meeting with political party representatives on the election results in Papua, West Irian, the Riau islands and North Sumatra electoral district 2.
Under the Elections Law, the KPU has to announce the results 30 days after the elections, which means May 5 at the latest.
Based on a simple calculation from the votes announced by the KPU, Golkar is likely to win the elections with 125 seats in the House, a slight increase from 118 seats in the 1999 elections.
The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) is likely to rank second with 108 seats, a drastic fall from 151 in the 1999 elections.
The third position is likely to be grabbed by newcomer the Democratic Party with 58 seats, with the United Development Party (PPP) closely trailing behind with 57 seats.
Seven parties -- the Pancasila Patriots' Party, the New Indonesia Alliance Party (PIB), the Regional United Party (PPD), the Social Democratic Labor Party (PBSD), the Indonesian Unity Party (PSI), the Indonesian Nadhlatul Community Party (PPNUI) and the Freedom Party -- are unlikely to obtain any seats in the House.
Meanwhile, the National Awakening Party (PKB) has decided to file a petition with the Constitutional Court over election results in East Java electoral district 10 covering, among others, Sampang and Bangkalan.
The Prosperous Peace Party (PDS) also plans to file suit over the election outcome in West Irian Jaya.
South Nias Election Supervisory Committee (Panwaslu) chairwoman Murni Riang Wau refused to accept the election results in North Sumatra electoral district 2, saying it was marked up by Pioneers' Party members to increase the party's votes from around 12,000 to 55,000.
Rusadi said the KPU would not change the outcome and would let the parties take legal action.
He also said valid votes for the 2004 legislative election stood at around 113 million, while registered voters exercising their rights were about 127 million people.
Some 148 million people registered as voters in the April 5 legislative election.