PDI-P allocates Rp 100b for campaign
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.