Several parties secure more seats in legislative council

The Constitutional Court granted on Thursday one seat in the regental legislature for the Concern for the Nation Functional Party (PKPB), the Pancasila Patriot Party, the National Awakening Party (PKB) and the Crescent Star Party (PBB), and four seats for the United Development Party (PPP).

According to the court, the General Election Commission (KPU) had mistakenly increased the number of votes for PPP from 1,277 to 2,489 and reduced those of PKPB from 1,410 to 1,357 in Telanaipura, Jambi.

Therefore, PKPB is entitled to another seat in the Jambi legislature. The Pancasila Patriot Party secured a seat in Katingan regental legislature as the KPU has mistakenly counted the votes for the party as 951, whereas the party had gained 989 votes in the regental election.

In Kediri, PKB enjoyed one more seat due to the same error by the KPU. While PKB had actually gained 25,623 votes, KPU only recorded 25,042 votes.

PBB got another seat in Bekasi, while PPP got four seats in Magelang, Jakarta, Palembang and West Tanjung Jabung respectively.

During the hearing, Constitutional Court chief Jimly Asshidiqie lamented the performance of the KPU in Sampang, Madura. It provided 37,000 ballot papers for the Regional Representatives Council (DPD) and 54,000 for the Sampang Legislative Council.

"How could this happen? The number of voters are the same for both institutions," he said. -- JP