The confusion at KPU

The confusion at KPU

Problems seem to be descending without end on the General Elections Commission (KPU). The latest problem has come in the wake of a vote taken within the commission last Monday, killing a vote-sharing agreement (stembusakkoord) reached in preballoting stages among eight Islamic-based parties. Feeling cheated, the eight parties have recently threatened to take the KPU to court.

We appreciate the KPU's courage to take this hard decision because now at least we have the solid certainty that is needed to proceed. A deadlock has been avoided and the public is spared from being further frustrated by the KPU's rowdy but sluggish manner of working. On the other hand, we fully understand the eight parties' deep displeasure over the decision. The (initial) accord, after all, was reached in accordance with prescribed procedures. We also appreciate that they have decided to use legal means to settle the controversy.

"Disorderly" (however) is the word that best describes the workings of the KPU so far. Each day, decision-making processes take place in the commission, but agreement always remains elusive. This is because previously agreed decisions are not honored. The aforementioned vote-sharing agreement, for example, was legally valid in its initial stages. In the course of developments, however, the earlier accord was offset by bickering among the parties involved.

Voting is essentially a last-resort means to overcome deadlocks. In this case, the KPU has yet again demonstrated that it is an organization without supremacy, since even such a established procedure as voting is opposed.

-- Media Indonesia, Jakarta