PDI-P submits list of legislative candidates

PDI-P submits list of legislative candidates

Muninggar Sri Saraswati, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan)
handed its list of legislative candidates to the General
Elections Commission (KPU) on Saturday, becoming the first party
to submit the names of its aspiring legislators for the 2004
general elections.

The submission came just two days before the deadline lapses
on Monday.

However, the ruling party submitted 213 legislative candidates
representing only 18 provinces, with those of the remaining 14
provinces expected to be handed in on Monday.

PDI Perjuangan deputy secretary-general Promono Anung said the
party had completed the candidacy list for 28 of the country's 32
provinces.

"The 18 provinces are our party's strongholds, so we submitted
that list today," he said.

Pramono was accompanying PDI Perjuangan secretary-general
Soetjipto as he officially submitted the list to KPU deputy
chairman Ramlan Surbakti.

Soetjipto said 50 percent of the candidates were veteran
politicians now serving in the House of Representatives (DPR),
and 31 percent of the seats had been allocated to women
politicians.

With the exception of party leader Agnita Singedekane Irsal,
PDI Perjuangan legislators Sterra Pietersz and Tumbu Saraswati,
actress Marissa Haque and TV presenter Irma Hutabarat, most women
candidates appeared toward the end of the list -- meaning they
will have little chance to get elected.

Agnita ranks first among North Maluku candidates, Sterra
second from Maluku, Tumbu second from Banten, Marissa second from
West Java and Irma first from North Sulawesi.

Other candidates include Megawati's husband Taufik Kiemas, who
ranks first in the list of legislative candidates from West Java,
and Taufik brother's Santayana Kiemas, number four from Banten.

Former Udayana military commander Maj. Gen. (ret) Adang
Ruchyatna ranked third for West Java, and former Trikora military
commander Maj. Gen. (ret) RK Sembiring Meliala secured the
topmost candidacy for West Irian Jaya.

Soetjipto admitted that most candidates had difficulties
meeting the KPU's requirements, particularly the judicial letter
of good conduct from the courts and a letter from a hospital
attesting to their physical and mental health.

Earlier in the day, several political parties visited the KPU
to ask that it delay the deadline for the candidacy list.

The parties included the Reform Star Party (PBR), Prosperous
Justice Party (PKS), Pioneer Party, Freedom Party, New Indonesia
Alliance Party (PPIB) and Freedom Bull National Party (PNBK).

Separately, KPU member Ramlan Surbakti said that it would not
push back the deadline.

"They could submit some of the requirements on Monday and
complete others afterwards," he told reporters, as this was
legal.

Parties that fail to submit their list of legislative
candidates by the Monday deadline are to be barred from
contesting the legislative elections scheduled for April 5, 2004.