KPU fails to make time for electoral disputes
KPU fails to make time for electoral disputes
Muninggar Sri Saraswati, Jakarta
Owing to its tight schedule, the General Elections Commission
(KPU) has failed to allocate sufficient time for the
Constitutional Court to hear possible disputes in vote-counting
during the presidential election, particularly after a possible
second round of voting.
"It is possible that disputes could occur more in the first
round. We don't anticipate them in the second round," Ramlan
Surbakti, KPU deputy chairman, told reporters on Monday.
In accordance with the Law on Presidential Elections, the KPU
has set the announcement date for results on Oct. 6 and the
inauguration on Oct. 20.
Five presidential candidates are vying to win in the country's
first direct presidential election, to be held on July 5 with a
possible runoff between the top two on Sept. 20.
Legislation on the presidential election and the
constitutional court stipulate that the candidates have to file
complaints within three days after the results are announced and
the Constitutional Court has to resolve the disputes within 14
days.
"We really don't have time to set 14 days for the Court to
finish possible cases. We hope they'll finish it in just a few
days," said Ramlan.
Campaign managers for all five candidates said last week that
they were prepared to report possible violations to the
Constitutional Court.
Each team has chosen a significant number of activists to
witness the ballot-counting and to secure written documentation
from local KPU (KPUDs) about the results, which would be
important evidence in court.
Most political parties lost their electoral lawsuits in the
wake of the April 5 legislative election due mostly to a lack of
firm evidence.
Going by the official timeline, the KPU has also not allocated
sufficient time for the Constitutional Court to settle possible
disputes after the first round of the presidential election
either.
KPU is set to announce the results of the first round on July
26 and the "three-day" election campaign for the second round is
slated to start on Aug. 14.
"We wouldn't have sufficient time for the printing and
distribution of ballot papers for the second round because we
plan to start on Aug. 8 while, if we wait for the court they
would not be obliged to finish until Aug. 12.
"Indeed, it is very hard to conduct three elections in a
year," Ramlan said.
Constitutional Court chief Jimly Asshidiqie has said that KPU
has failed to allot sufficient time for the court to settle
possible electoral disputes during the presidential election.
"We must talk about it carefully because it may affect the
legitimacy of the elected president. People tend to be more
emotional during the presidential election. They will do their
best to win the race," he said.
The Constitutional Court, Jimly explained, is expected to
invite the KPU and the government representatives to settle the
problem this week.
The Constitutional Court received as many as 273 complaints
filed by 23 of the 24 political parties participating in the
April 5 legislative election.