PDI-P allocates Rp 100b for campaign

Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The ruling Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) has established a Rp 100 billion (US$11.3 million) budget for the upcoming elections campaign, with half of that budget earmarked for a media campaign.

The party's treasurer, Noviantika Nasution, said, however, the PDI-P could exceed its proposed budget because "we cannot prohibit people from giving more donations to the party".

PDI-P is the first among 24 political parties contesting the April general election to have announced its budget for the campaign.

Noviantika said the money would be raised from the party's legislative candidates, as well as donations from members and supporters.

"Some Rp 50 billion of the money will be used to place advertisements and woo support through television, radio and other media," Noviantika said at a media conference following a weekly party meeting on Tuesday.

She said that aside from cash, some party members might donate T-shirts or other party symbols for the campaign.

The campaign period for the legislative election will run from March 11 through April 1, with balloting on April 5.

Noviantika said the party would also cover the campaign costs of chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri, who is also the President.

"With the extra security required for the President, we will have to charter a plane to ensure her mobility. But we are ready to finance the campaign," Noviantika said.

During the media conference, the party's deputy secretary- general, Pramono Anung Wibowo, said the Elections Supervisory Committee (Panwaslu) had ruled that the party had not violated election laws during a series of events marking its recent anniversary.

"Panwaslu said that we did not violate the law by holding parades and other activities to celebrate our party's anniversary, as long as there were no speeches or activities aimed at wooing people's support," Pramono said.

He said the letter, signed by Panwaslu chairman Komaruddin Hidayat, arrived on Tuesday.

The party can now go ahead with its plan to hold more events to celebrate its 31st anniversary.

The Panwaslu office in Surakarta, Central Java, filed a police report accusing the party of violating election laws by gathering more than 50,000 people for a parade in the town last week.

"Since we are not guilty of any violations, we plan to hold parades across the country on Feb. 18 as part of the party's anniversary celebration," Pramono said.

Previously, Panwaslu charged the United Development Party and the National Awakening Party with violating election laws in conjunction with activities they held to mark their respective anniversaries. Both parties were reported to the Jakarta Police.