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.