RI may have less than five presidential candidates in 2004

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.