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