PDI Perjuangan, PPDK fit for polls

JAKARTA: Ministry of Justice and Human Rights announced on Tuesday the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) and the newly established Unity, Democracy and Nationhood Party (PPDK) qualified for the 2004 general election.

Both parties were declared eligible to contest the election as they have fulfilled administrative requirements.

"We have checked the status of their office buildings, administration and equipment," verification team chief Zulkarnaen Yunus said on Tuesday at PDI Perjuangan's office.

PDI Perjuangan is the largest party, having won 35 percent of the vote in the 1999 election.

The newly established PPDK is led by noted scholar Andi Mallarangeng and former cabinet minister Ryaas Rasyid.

The justice ministry is making a background check on over 230 parties that have registered to contest the election, scheduled for April 5, 2004. --JP