President to enjoy campaign privileges

Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

President Megawati Soekarnoputri and Vice President Hamzah Haz will not be required to take leave if they wish to stump for their parties during the campaign season, which begins on March 11.

Home minister Hari Sabarno said here on Thursday that while a regulation on political campaigning by state officials was still being prepared, the President and Vice President would be allowed to campaign while visiting the regions as part of their official duties, so they would not be required to take a leave of absence as President and Vice President of the country in order to campaign.

"They could take a leave but are not required to do because of their jobs as President and Vice President. It is possible for them to campaign while they are on official visit to regions during the campaign season," he said.

Observers have called on state officials who are also functionaries in political parties to take a leave of absence from their official duties in order to campaign for their parties.

Megawati chairs the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) while Hamzah leads the United Development Party (PPP).

Coordinating Minister for Security and Political Affairs Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare Jusuf Kalla have said that if nominated for president, they will step down as ministers in order to campaign.

The home minister, however, said PDI Perjuangan and the PPP would have to cover the expenses for the campaign activities of Megawati and Hamzah.

The government is drafting a regulation to govern the behavior of state officials during the 20-day election campaign.

There is no regulation requiring state officials to resign if they wish to campaign for their political parties. There are numerous state officials who would be affected by such a regulation, including Amien Rais, the speaker of the People's Consultative Assembly who also chairs the National Mandate Party (PAN), and Minister of Justice and Human Rights Yuzril Ihza Mahendra, who leads the Crescent Star Party (PBB).

Home minister Hari also said on Thursday the President was expected to appoint ad interim ministers to replace those ministers who resign to join the presidential race.

"The President has the prerogative to appoint ad interim ministers to replace those who will contest the presidential election, to maintain the effectiveness of the government," he said.

Megawati has yet to appoint an acting minister for defense minister Matori Abdul Djalil, who is recovering from a stroke.