Only 48 parties to contest election

Only 48 parties to contest election

BUDAPEST: President Megawati Soekarnoputri predicted here on
Monday that out of the 200 political parties that had registered
with the Ministry of Justice and Human Rights, only 48 would
qualify for the general election in 2004.

"The 1999 election was contested by 48 political parties. The
2004 election will have more or less the same number of
contestants," Megawati said at a get-together with members of the
Indonesian community living in Budapest.

Megawati said the birth of new political parties in recent
years had raised the question whether all of them would be
automatically eligible for participation in the 2004 polls.

"I think, that is unfeasible. There must be a selection
process under the law on general elections," she said as quoted
by Antara.

Megawati said the government would conduct a simulation of a
general election participated in by more than 50 political
parties. -- Antara