RI may have less than five presidential candidates in 2004

Kurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The House of Representatives is debating whether to pass a draft government legislation which stipulates that political parties can only field a presidential candidate if it wins 20 percent of the seats in the legislative elections.

A second alternative proposed by minor parties allows all parties ruled eligible for the legislative elections to field presidential elections.

The third alternative is to allow the top five parties in the legislative elections to field contestants.

A number of political parties, including newly registered parties still being screened by the Justice and Human Rights Ministry, have expressed opposition to limiting presidential candidates.

National Mandate Party (PAN) chairman Amien Rais has criticized the bill, saying it would hinder the development of democracy in Indonesia.

Amien, expected to run for president during the 2004 elections, called on the House to allow all parties contesting the legislative election to field presidential candidates.

New Indonesia Party (PIB) chairman Sjahrir, who announced his presidential candidacy last Sunday, agreed with Amien.

As the bill was debated for the first time Monday, Home Affairs Minister Hari Sabarno said smaller parties who missed the 20 percent threshold could form coalitions to field a presidential candidate.

Separately, Golkar Chairman Akbar Tandjung said the limitation would ensure that presidential candidates would get back-up in the legislature should they win the presidential election

The main idea of this mechanism, Akbar said, would be creating a strong government which had the support of legislators.

However, he said his party thought the threshold was too high, saying: "Possibly, 15 percent will be acceptable."

House factions are expected to state their positions on the bill on Wednesday.