MPR to extend debate on election rule changes
MPR to extend debate on election rule changes
JAKARTA (JP): The People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) put a
halt to the tough deliberation on the proposed amendments to a
decree on general elections yesterday and agreed to allow faction
leaders to seek a compromise.
Wiranto, who chairs the Assembly's ad hoc committee in charge
of matters outside the State Policy Guidelines, said the
committee had run out of time to discuss the amendments and had
to move to another draft of decree.
No agreement was reached after four days of debate which
started Monday, with minority factions the United Development
Party (PPP) and the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) insisting
the Assembly add "fair" and "honest" to the principles that guide
the implementation of general elections. At present, the
principles only mandate directness, universality and
confidentiality.
The two minority parties also urged the Assembly to allow poll
contestants to have an equal footing with the President in
organizing the five-yearly elections.
Dominant political group Golkar and its traditional allies,
the Armed Forces and regional representatives factions, rejected
the demand.
"I appreciate each faction for giving thorough arguments. We
cannot reach a decision now, but we will have one in the end. We
may have to synchronize our deliberation with that of the other
committee on the State Policy Guidelines," said Wiranto.
He said lobbying among faction leaders was expected to help
the factions reach a common understanding.
The committee will now start deliberation on Golkar's proposal
to give the President extra power to take preemptive measures
against those considered attempting to disrupt the national
development program.
PDI spokesman Ismunandar said the tiny faction would not
change its mind.
"It has been our commitment for so long to establish fair and
honest elections. We will fight for it to the end because at
stake is our constituents' trust," he said.
Chairman of the PDI faction in the Assembly, Buttu Hutapea,
said the faction was anticipating a deadlock in the deliberation
in the first stage of the Assembly's general session which will
end on Jan. 23 next year. The second stage is in March.
"Each faction has to be open to the fact that the first stage
of the general session is not intended to produce final drafts of
decrees. Theoretically we can force other factions to bring this
deliberation to the second stage of the session in March," Buttu
said.
If the Assembly fails to reach an agreement on the election
rules amendments, it will be the first time in the history of the
Assembly under the New Order that a draft has to be decided in
the second stage of the lawmaking body's general session.
The 1,000-strong Assembly will regroup in March to endorse
decrees and the State Policy Guidelines and elect a president and
vice president. (amd)