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