Regional direct elections may go ahead despite problems
Regional direct elections may go ahead despite problems
Tiarma Siboro, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
With the country's first direct local leadership election ever
taking place on Wednesday, the government has identified 23
regions that face obstacles in holding such elections, ranging
from disputed candidacies to internal rifts in political parties.
Minister of Home Affairs M. Ma'ruf also revealed that
financial constraints could play havoc with the elections,
leading him to urge national lawmakers to approve the
disbursement of Rp 344 billion next week to assist the regions in
holding the elections.
"Our information shows that at least 23 regions are still
facing problems, including the duplication of party executive
boards that has led to rival camps nominating their own
candidates. Also, challenges against the screening of candidates
by Local General Elections Commissions (KPUD) has in some cases
sparked violence," Ma'ruf told a press conference on Monday.
The ministry said that internal rifts in political parties
contesting the elections had taken place in Banyuwangi (East
Java), South Tapanuli (South Sumatra), Gowa (South Sulawesi),
Rejang Lebong (West Java), Asahan (South Sumatra), West Halmahera
(North Maluku), Eastern Seram (Maluku), Indragiri Hulu (South
Sumatra) and Solok (West Sumatra).
Disputes over the eligibility of candidates had occurred in
Tanah Toraja (South Sulawesi), Sula (North Maluku), Bima (West
Nusa Tenggara) and Kebumen (Central Java), according to
information supplied by the ministry.
"We hope the problems can be solved quickly so that we can
press ahead with the elections," Ma'ruf added.
The elections for governors, regents and mayors across the
country, he said, had to proceed as this was what the public
wanted. Voter turnout would be at least 80 percent, he predicted.
The election for the regent of Kutai Kartanegara in East
Kalimantan on Wednesday will mark the start of a hectic series of
elections around the country that will last for the rest of the
year.
A total of 186 local administrations, including seven
provinces, will hold elections in June, while 40 regions will
follow suit between July and December.
Regarding the election in Poso regency, which has just been
rocked by deadly bomb attacks, Ma'ruf said "the show must go on".
"The local election commission has so far not requested a
postponement of the regental election," Ma'ruf said. The poll is
set for June 30.
The ministry's director general for local government finance
Daeng M. Nazier said the Ministry of Finance had approved an
allocation of Rp 344.3 billion from the state budget out of the
Rp 744 billion proposed by the home ministry for the regions that
were holding local elections.
The Ministry of Home Affairs had also requested Rp 142 billion
in operational funds, but the Ministry of Finance provided only
about Rp 20 billion.
"We hope the House of Representatives will endorse the
disbursement of the funds next week so that we can immediately
calculate how much each region will receive," Daeng said.