Only 1,600 pass KPU screening

Moch. N. Kurniawan, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The General Elections Commission (KPU) announced on Tuesday that only 1,611 of 8,871 legislative candidates have passed the first screening, with none from, among others, the National Awakening Party (PKB) and the Reform Star Party (PBR).

A small number of legislative aspirants failed absolutely to pass KPU verification as they did not meet the minimum age requirement of 21, but the KPU did not provide any figures.

The remaining aspirants who had did not meet requirements in the verification have been given an opportunity to complete the required documentation by 4 p.m. on Jan. 19.

KPU member in charge of legislative aspirant verification Anas Urbaningrum said most candidates who did not pass the administrative screening failed to declare their wealth and submit bills on their health status or crime records from the court.

"We have just completed the assessment on 21 of 24 parties except for the Crescent Star Party (PBB), the Socialist Democratic Labor Party (PBSD) and Freedom Party (Partai Merdeka). We are still calculating the proportion of male and female candidates," Anas told a press conference.

He said that during the extended period to complete required documentation until Jan. 19, parties were banned from adding new male candidates but were allowed to nominate female candidates in particular electoral districts where they remained unable to comply with the 30 percent quota for women, as suggested by the election law.

The KPU also warned parties against replacing candidates unless the nominees had been disqualified.

Parties are also prohibited from moving aspirants from one electoral district to another or adding to the original list of legislative candidates in an electoral district.

There will be 69 electoral districts across the country offering 550 House of Representatives seats in the general election in April. Some 145 million people are registered as eligible voters.

The KPU will publicly announce the final list of legislative aspirants on Jan. 28 and Jan. 29.

Earlier in the day, the Center for Electoral Reform (Cetro) lashed out at parties for failing to meet their promise to raise women's representation in the legislative bodies.

Cetro director Smita Notosusanto said although some parties might have passed the minimum quota for women, female candidates might not be elected as they were ranked at the bottom.

Cetro's conclusion was based on its analysis of four parties: the National Mandate Party (PAN), National Awakening Party (PKB), United Development Party (PPP) and the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS).

Taking an example, Cetro said that among PAN women candidates, who account for 32 percent of its aspirants, only half were on top of the list. Over 29 percent of PKB candidates were women, but only 16.4 percent of them were ranked first or second.

Smita also expressed disappointment at the KPU for not announcing an interim list of legislative candidates as this has left the public unable to scrutinize parties' commitment to women's representation in the House.

With such poor commitment, she said, the women's agenda, including education, health, violence against women and women- trafficking, would not receive proper attention until the 2009 election.