KPU sets inauguration date fpr new lawmakers as Oct. 1

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.