New, small parties out in the cold

New, small parties out in the cold

Tiarma Siboro and Kurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Major parties have all the reasons to celebrate the endorsement
of the election bill, while their smaller and newly-established
rivals will now struggle to keep their hopes of contesting the
2004 election alive.

The bill, which was passed by the House of Representatives on
Tuesday night after marathon deliberations stretching back to
July 2002, adopts a two percent electoral threshold, which will
force minor parties to merge or register themselves as new
contestants.

Dejected Justice Party (PK) president Hidayat Nurwahid and
National Democratic Party (PDK) chairman Ryaas Rasyid branded the
bill antidemocratic and unfair as it victimized minor parties.

"Because the newly passed election bill is neither just nor
fair, there will be no just and fair election. I am afraid the
bill will spark public disappointment," Hidayat said.

He said the bill, to take effect in 30 days, would not give
the public enough alternatives after the public had lost faith in
the established parties due to their poor performance.

"The bill will not enable a fair competition in the 2004
election to take place as expected by President Megawati
Soekarnoputri," Hidayat said.

His party won just seven House seats in the 1999 election,
three seats away from the cut-off. Hidayat said his party would
register itself under a new name to contest the election next
year.

Only six parties were eligible for the 2004 elections as they
won more than 10 House seats in the 1999 election. More than 200
parties have registered to contest the next election.

PDK chairman Ryaas, a former Cabinet minister under then
president Abdurrahman Wahid, said the bill was the result of a
conspiracy among major parties who had slowed the deliberation on
purpose to carry out private deals.

"People know those big parties are afraid of losing supporters
who voted for them in 1999. They would have even proposed to
delay the elections," he said.

Meanwhile, seven small parties, which fell below the new
electoral threshold, have declared a coalition called the United
Party of Indonesia (PSI) to contest the 2004 elections. Party
secretary-general Djumhur Hidayat said that joining the parties
was sufficient if it used the 1999 election vote tally, which
reached three million votes.

The seven are the People's Sovereignty Party (PDR), Indonesian
National Party of Marhaenist Front (PNI Massa Marhaen),
Democratic Catholic Party (PKD), United Party (PP), League of
Upholders of Indonesian Independence (IPKI), Islamic Association
Party of Indonesia (PSII) and the Indonesia Unity in Diversity
Party (PBI).

Major political parties have the last laugh, hailing the
endorsement of the bill as the ultimate achievement the House
could obtain.

Golkar deputy secretary-general Syamsul Mu'arif said the bill
had accommodated the party's interests. "Of eight articles which
were voted on, Golkar misses one on electoral thresholds. This
means the bill benefits us," Syamsul said after a hearing with
legislators on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, the General Election Commission (KPU) will prepare
for voter registration which will begin on April 1 and last until
the end of March 2004, and help local governments set up election
commissions there.

The registration of voters will be conducted in cooperation
with the Central Bureau of Statistic (BPS).

KPU member Imam Prasodjo said the commission needed Rp 400
billion (US$43 million) for the registration, but as of Wednesday
it had raised only Rp 360 billion.

Comparison of the elections laws

Law No.3/1999
1. Proportional system
2. General Elections Commission consists of government officials
and representatives of political parties
3. Commission comprises 48 politicians and 5 government officials
4. To qualify for election, political party must have board in 1/2
of the number of provinces and in 1/2 of the regencies in each
province.
5. No rules on female candidates
6. Constituency of DPR is the province
7. Restriction in the use of government facilities and places of
worship during campaign
8. Limit of campaign funds is decided by election commission
9. No specific timeframe for the solution of election disputes
10. No rules on investigation into legislators suspected of
violation

New Law
1. Proportional with open-list
2. Commission consists of non-partisan figures
3. Commission totals 11 members
4. To qualify for election, political party must have board in 2/3
of the number of provinces and in 2/3 of the regencies in each
province
5. Parties can nominate candidates with regard to female
representation of at least 30 percent
6. Constituency of DPR is the province and parts of province
(group of regencies).
7. State officials are allowed to campaign but not permitted to
use state facilities, officials must take unpaid leave during
campaign without ignoring state administration.
8. Personal donations must not exceed Rp 100 million,
institutional donation must not exceed Rp 750 million
9. Election dispute is resolved no later than 14 days
10. State investigators to probe legislators need not ask for
permission from the president