KPU sets inauguration date fpr new lawmakers as Oct. 1

Muninggar Sri Saraswati, Jakarta

New members of the House of Representatives (DPR) and Regional Representatives Council (DPD) will take their oath of office on Oct. 1, the General Elections Commission (KPU) says.

The KPU had earlier issued a circular stating that the swearing-in ceremony would held in mid-September, which would be revised as soon as possible, said KPU deputy chairman Ramlan Surbakti said after a meeting with the Constitutional Court and House leaders.

Attendees at the meeting included Constitutional Court president Jimly Asshidiqie, KPU chairman Nazarudin Syamsuddin, KPU member Hamid Awaluddin, House deputy chairman Tosari Wijaya, the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) deputy chairman Husni Thamrin and interim coordinating minister of political and social affairs Hari Sabarno.

The current legislative term will end in September.

Tosari said 550 elected House members and 128 DPD members would be inaugurated hours before they are sworn in to form the MPR on Oct. 1.

The meeting also agreed to inaugurate the president- and vice president-elects on Oct. 20.

"The term of the current president and vice president will end on Oct. 20. We cannot afford to delay it," Tosari told reporters.

Five candidates are contesting the country's landmark direct presidential election on July 5: incumbent Megawati Soekarnoputri, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, Wiranto, Amien Rais and Vice President Hamzah Haz. A possible run-off is scheduled for Sept. 20.

In the case of a run-off, the KPU will announce the final electoral result on Oct. 6. Any complaints should be filed within three days after the announcement.

"We are sure we'll be able to wrap up any possible disputes within seven days, because the defendant involves only one pair of ... candidates," Jimly said.

Earlier, the KPU said it had not allowed sufficient time for the Constitutional Court to resolve all possible electoral disputes after the run-off.

The Presidential Elections Law and Constitutional Court Law rule that the court must resolve electoral disputes within 14 days after they are filed.

The campaign teams of the five candidates have said they were ready to bring possible ballot-counting violations to the Constitutional Court.

Each team has promised to deploy a number of members to witness the vote-count and to secure written documents from local general elections commissions on the result.

The Constitutional Court received at least 273 complaints in regards the April 5 legislative election, involving 23 of the 24 parties that contested.

Most plaintiffs, however, lost their suits at the court because of a lack of hard evidence.