Political parties granted Rp 500m each for election
Political parties granted Rp 500m each for election
JAKARTA (JP): The three political parties contesting the May
29 general election were given Rp 500 million (US$ 206,782) each
yesterday to finance their campaigns.
The funding -- for the dominant Golkar, the Moslem-based
United Development Party (PPP) and the nationalist-Christian
alliance Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) -- was delivered by
Minister of Home Affairs Moch. Yogie S.M. at a ceremony at the
ministry yesterday.
This year's election funding is twice the sum given to the
three parties for the 1992 general election. Each received Rp 250
million then.
Yogie also announced yesterday an increase in the government's
monthly subsidy to the parties, from Rp 7.5 million to Rp 25
million.
The minister, who also chairs the General Elections Institute
and the General Elections Committee which is organizing the 1997
general election, said he realized the amount was far less than
the contestants needed. He suggested the three parties seek
additional funding from other sources.
"That's all the government can give. I hope the government
funding will stimulate a further flow of funding from other
sources," he said.
The two minority parties, PPP and PDI, said they were
disappointed with the amount.
PPP's secretary-general Tosari Wijaya said it was far less
than expected.
"We expected Rp 1 billion (US$ 413,565)," he said after the
ceremony marking the funding transfer.
The PPP needed another Rp 2.7 billion, he said.
PDI chairman Soerjadi said the amount did not even come close
to the party's estimated spending up until the general election.
"We need Rp 20 billion to finance our activities, from
election preparation up to election day," he said. "We asked for
Rp 2 billion, but got only Rp 500 million."
Soerjadi said, that apart from the newly received funding, the
PDI had less than Rp 500 million at hand to cover election
spending.
On whether the PDI would ask for additional funding from the
government, Soerjadi said: "It would be better if not to ask for
additional funding if it means begging for pity from the
government."
Separately, political expert Indria Samego of the National
Institute of Sciences suggested yesterday regulations be
established for the mobilization of funding for each political
contestant.
"Political parties are always dependent on the government when
they organize congresses and seminars, or when they take part in
general elections," Indria said as quoted by Antara yesterday.
"It is, therefore, difficult for the political contestants,
especially the PPP and the PDI, to get supporters and provide
political education for the people," he said.
The three political contestants will compete in the election
for 425 of the 500 seats in the House of Representatives. The
remaining 75 seats will be allocated to the Armed Forces, whose
members do not vote.
The General Elections Institute announced yesterday the Final
List of Legislative Candidates for the general election. It had
eight names less than the Provisional List of Legislative
Candidates.
Four of the eight candidates dropped from the list were from
the PPP; the others were from Golkar.
Three of the PPP candidates -- Abdul Hamid of West Java,
Mochammad Anwar Nurris of East Java and Saiful Ahmad Haulusy --
died. The other candidate, Yudo Paripurno, withdrew from the
race.
Golkar's secretary general Ary Mardjono said two Golkar
candidates -- Achmad Pawennei of South Sulawesi and Wahyono of
West Nusa Tenggara -- withdrew. The other two candidates -- Abdul
Rani Ramelan and Mochtar Abdul Kadir, both from East Java -- were
dropped for various reasons.
Golkar now has 825 candidates, PPP 720 candidates, while PDI
still has 744 candidates for the House.
The final list of legislative candidates will be formally
distributed to the public today. (imn)
Votes -- Page 2