More parties pass KPU screening

JAKARTA: The General Elections Commission (KPU) said on Wednesday that five more political parties had passed its administrative screening.

KPU member Mulyana W. Kusumah, who is in charge of party screening, said the five parties were the Democrats Party, the Pelopor Party, the PNI Marhaenisme Party, the Prosperous Peaceful Party, and the Independence Party.

To date, 13 parties have passed the KPU administrative screening and will undergo factual screening to determine whether or not they can contest next year's general election.

Six parties earlier passed screening to be eligible to contest 2004 elections as they met the 2 percent electoral threshold in the 1999 elections.

But another 23 parties were requested to submit improved documentation within one week to be administratively reverified by the KPU, he said.

Among them were the Unitary Party of the Republic of Indonesia and the Unity Democrat Party.

Eight parties have yet to be verified by the KPU, he said, adding that the KPU would announce the final results on Thursday. -JP