Ministers must resign to run in election
Ministers must resign to run in election
Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, and Kurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Cabinet ministers will have to leave office if they decide to
contest the presidential election, a draft government regulation
says in response to controversy on the issue.
"Ministers who run for the presidency will have to resign. The
resignation will possibly take place after April," State
Secretary Bambang Kesowo told a hearing with House of
Representatives (DPR) Commission I for security and political
affairs.
Later, he told the media that mandatory resignation would be
required days before the direct presidential election, scheduled
for July 5.
President Megawati Soekarnoputri will sign the government
regulation soon, Bambang said.
He did not refer to any names in particular.
However, the public will be quick to identify Coordinating
Minister for Political and Security Affairs Susilo Bambang
Yudhoyono, Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare Jusuf Kalla
and Minister of Justice and Human Rights Yusril Ihza Mahendra.
Kalla is one of Golkar's presidential aspirants, whose
nomination will be decided during the party's convention in
April. Golkar looks set to choose its chairman, Akbar Tandjung,
if the Supreme Court acquits him from graft charges on Wednesday.
Although he has not officially announced his presidential bid,
Yusril will likely be nominated by his own Crescent Star Party
(PBB). Yusril has insisted he will remain in post until his
official term ends in October.
Susilo has won the support of the tiny Democratic Party,
chaired by Budi Santoso. Rumors have also been rife he will be
nominated by the National Awakening Party (PKB). Susilo, however,
has been too reticent to declare his intentions, saying he has no
grassroot support from any political party.
The issue on mandatory resignation surfaced last year after
Megawati's Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) warned
that several ministers who might run for the top executive post
could undermine Megawati's government. The party said it was
unethical for ministers, who are the president's aides, to
challenge their boss but maintain their position.
Separately, Minister of Home Affairs Hari Sabarno confirmed on
Monday that ministers would have to resign immediately after the
General Elections Commission (KPU) officially announced their
candidacy on May 19.
The elections law says the direct presidential election is
restricted to a party or a group of parties that win 3 percent of
the vote or 5 percent of voters in the general election,
scheduled for April 5.
"Should these ministers stay in the Cabinet they will disrupt
the performance of the government as they will focus on their
campaigns," Hari said.
He said ministers would be required to discuss with the
president their bid before a presidential decree was issued to
suspend them.
The government regulation will be finalized next week before
the President leaves for an overseas trip to Iran on Feb. 17.
Key points on campaign regulation:
- Ministers will have a maximum of four days off for campaigning,
during which their duties will be handled by interim ministers.
- Ministers running for the presidency must resign after the KPU
officially announces their candidacy
- The president and vice president should take alternate days off
for campaigning to avoid being off at the same time.
- Campaigning must not disturb state duties