PPP and PDI cautious on changing election system
PPP and PDI cautious on changing election system
JAKARTA (JP): Golkar says it is ready for changes in the electoral system away from the current system of proportional representation, as hinted at by President Soeharto, but the two minority parties are more cautious about the issue.
Golkar chairman Harmoko told reporters yesterday in Samarinda, East Kalimantan, that his group, which has won each of the last five general elections, was prepared for any system.
Leaders of the United Development Party (PPP) and the Indonesian Democratic party (PDI) said separately that, while they welcomed a change in the electoral system, it was more important for the nation that the electoral laws and regulations be upheld.
Soeharto asked the Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI) on Tuesday to conduct a study on the best election system for the nation, with the possibility of dropping the current system of proportional representation in favor of a first-past-the-post system.
LIPI was also asked to look into the mechanism for the appointment of Armed Forces officers to the House of Representatives (DPR).
Under the current system, 400 of the 500 seats in the DPR are divided between Golkar, the PPP and the PDI in accordance with their share of the votes. The other 100 seats are reserved for representatives of the Armed Forces, whose members do not vote.
Under a first-past-the-post system, each seat in the House would have to be contested in every district, with voters electing their representatives rather than the political parties.
Political commentators have agreed that a district-based system would give Golkar an even greater advantage over the other two parties.
Harmoko, who was on a lengthy Ramadhan Safari tour of Kalimantan, was quoted by the Antara news agency as saying that Golkar had once, already, proposed the adoption of a district- based system, but that the other two political parties rejected the proposal.
He said Golkar had conducted its own study about the district- based system and was confident about its chances in a general election using that system.
PDI chairperson Megawati Sukarnoputri told reporters after breaking the fast at the Ministry of Home Affairs in Jakarta yesterday evening that any attempt to improve the political and electoral system must be welcomed.
But she said it was not the system that should be replaced.
Adherence
PDI was more concerned about the adherence to the regulations during elections, she said. "What's important is that the political parties be included in the planning and implementation of the elections."
Tosari Wijaya, secretary general of the United Development Party (PPP), who attended the same dinner, concurred with Megawati that the political parties should be given greater control over the way elections are administered.
The PPP and PDI have complained that the present electoral rules greatly favor Golkar. They have alleged that various violations of the electoral rules by Golkar during past elections have gone unpunished.
The two minority parties have also been calling for a revamping of the electoral system. But, judging from their reactions to the latest proposal, the last thing they want is a move away from the proportional representation system.
Former PDI chairman Soerjadi said the fact that Soeharto had commissioned LIPI to conduct the study was an encouraging sign. "But it would be more important to safeguard the implementation of a system and ensure its fairness to all election contestants."
"Actually, any system is good," Soerjadi told reporters.
"We can change the system, but it will mean nothing if its implementation is not supported by morality and ethics," the former PDI chief said.
"What we need to do is to improve the spirit, the conduct, the commitment and the implementation of the electoral system of our choice, whichever it is," Soerjadi said.
"The most important thing is that we create a sense of security among people, so that they are not afraid to vote for the political party of their choice," he said. "We have to admit that at present there are people who have been pressured and haven't felt free to vote...this is unjust."
Soerjadi said he hoped LIPI would be able to carry out its task objectively. "It shouldn't work as a tailor who is instructed to make something only for the interests of one party," he said.
Abu Hartono of the Armed Forces (ABRI) faction praised Soeharto for the move, saying it reflected the President's wisdom and sensitivity towards the nation's democratization process.
Abu said his faction had no inclination to any particular system, as long as it fitted the nation's needs.
He said that the real question for ABRI was not whether its role in social and political life was justifiable, because the laws and decisions of the People's Consultative Assembly recognized ABRI's "dual function". (swe/29)