PDIP, Golkar back direct vote in 2004

PDIP, Golkar back direct vote in 2004

Kurniawan Hari and Kasparman, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

With only ten days to go to the Annual Session of the People's
Consultative Assembly (MPR), the Indonesian Democratic Party of
Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) and Golkar factions continued their
lobbying forum to avoid deadlock in the process of constitutional
amendment.

Leaders of both factions said that they were trying to
harmonize their differences on the substance of the amendment.

Following a two-hour lobbying meeting on Monday, leaders of
PDI Perjuangan and Golkar factions agreed that the direct
presidential election would take effect at the 2004 general
election.

"We will urge the House and President to finish soon their
deliberations on laws needed for the 2004 general election," said
Fahmi Idris, chairman of the Golkar faction in the Assembly after
a lobbying session here on Monday.

According to Fahmi, the message would be conveyed by his
faction in recommendations to the House and President after
delivering annual progress reports.

Chairman of the PDI Perjuangan faction Arifin Panigoro
concurred with Fahmi, adding that his faction would push the
House to complete deliberations on the three political laws -- on
political parties, elections, and composition of the MPR, House
of Representatives (DPR), Regional Legislative Councils (DPDs),
and Regional Legislatures (DPRDs).

The statement of the party leaders dispelled fears that the
implementation of a direct presidential election would be delayed
to 2009.

PDI Perjuangan chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri claimed
recently that the public was not ready for a direct presidential
election.

Golkar chairman Akbar Tandjung said earlier that the
implementation of a direct presidential election could be
postponed to 2009.

Two political bills on political parties and elections were
set to be deliberated at the House in mid-August while a bill on
the composition of legislative bodies was still being outlined,
pending the final amendment to the Constitution.

Secretary of the Assembly's ad hoc committee for
constitutional amendment (PAH 1) Ali Masykur Musa said that
despite discussion on the possibility of delaying the new
electoral system, no faction had formally requested a delay.

Ali of the National Awakening Party (PKB) faction said demands
for a delay in the direct presidential election would also mean
inconsistencies because all factions had endorsed the new system
last year.

Meanwhile, PAH 1 chairman Jakob Tobing emphasized it would all
depend on the DPR whether a direct presidential election could be
implemented in 2004 or not.

He added that the Assembly would complete only the
constitutional amendment while its operations would be determined
by the House through enactment of the political bills.

Jakob expressed optimism that the Annual Session could finish
the fourth batch of constitutional amendments in August.

He said all unresolved issues that still had alternative
solutions could be voted upon. The legislators, however, were
trying to reach consensus to solve the problem.

"We will try to reach a consensus until the final minutes of
the Annual Session," he added.

Responding to suspicion that backroom deals were going on
between PDI Perjuangan and Golkar, Fahmi said that the Assembly
would present an explanation to the public on July 28 on the
result of a series of lobbies on the constitutional amendment.

Meanwhile, MPR speaker Amien Rais expressed his support for
the move by House legislators to proceed with the amendment of
the 1945 Constitution.

"It will set a bad precedent for the democratization of this
country if the constitutional amendment is halted," Amien said in
Padang, West Sumatra, after attending a mass prayer held by the
West Sumatra chapter of the Muhammadiyah Muslim organization on
Monday.

He said the 1945 Constitution was far from perfect, and any
willingness to amend it was a positive response to the current
political turbulence.