Three parties press ahead for direct presidential vote
Three parties press ahead for direct presidential vote
Kurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Leading figures from three major parties on Friday pressed ahead
with their demands for a direct presidential election in 2004
despite objections from the ruling Indonesian Democratic Party of
Struggle (PDI Perjuangan).
The PDI Perjuangan, chaired by President Megawati
Soekarnoputri, has appealed to political leaders to delay direct
presidential elections until 2009.
However, a number of leading figures from Golkar, the United
Development Party (PPP), and the National Awakening Party (PKB)
said the commitment to democracy and the people's sovereignty
must be top of the list of priorities.
"Should we delay the implementation of direct presidential
elections until 2009? This seriously concerns us," Golkar's
deputy secretary-general Rully Chairul Azwar told a discussion at
the House building here on Friday.
Chairman of the PKB faction in the People's Consultative
Assembly (MPR), Yusuf Muhammad, another speaker at the
discussion, underlined the nation's commitment to democracy.
Yusuf suggested that the political elite should avoid
manipulating the hopes of the public regarding presidential
elections.
Despite what the PDI Perjuangan said, Yusuf claimed most
people in the country were ready for direct presidential
elections.
"Please stop underestimating the people," said Yusuf,
familiarly known as Gus Yus.
Lukman Hakim Saifuddin of the Muslim-based PPP added that when
all Assembly factions, including the PDI Perjuangan, endorsed the
proposal for direct presidential elections last year, he thought
it would be effective for the 2004 general election.
The PDI Perjuangan's resistance to direct presidential
elections, Lukman said, would undermine the agreement.
PDI Perjuangan chairwoman Megawati said that direct
presidential elections could be implemented in 2009, citing the
unpreparedness of the public as the reason behind the delay.
Megawati, as quoted by PDI Perjuangan secretary-general
Sutjipto, claimed that the people were not psychologically ready
for a direct presidential election in 2004.
According to Sutjipto, Megawati cited clashes by
demonstrators, especially during Assembly annual sessions, as a
sign of the people's immaturity.
With its 181 seats in the 700-strong Assembly, the PDI
Perjuangan will play a major role during the Annual Session in
August, which is expected to endorse a fourth batch of
constitutional amendments.
Another deputy secretary-general of Golkar, Andi Mattalata,
emphasized that the number of seats was a decisive factor in the
political process in the Assembly.
"No matter how brilliant an idea is, the decisive factor is
political strength. Let the people examine the process in the
Assembly," Andi added.
All four legislators who spoke during the discussion were
members of the Assembly's ad hoc committee for the amendment of
the Constitution (PAH 1).
The Assembly endorsed a direct presidential election in
October last year, promising to give the people a chance to
directly cast their votes for their choices of president and vice
president.
The legislators, however, failed to reach agreement on what
would happen if none of the running mates collected more than
half the national vote.
There are two alternatives outlined by the ad hoc committee:
to give the Assembly authority to select the winning candidates
or to organize run-off election.
"Until today, there is no agreement regarding this issue,"
said Lukman.
During a series of discussions in the ad hoc committee, the
PDI Perjuangan appeared to favor letting the Assembly elect the
president.
The PDI Perjuangan seems to enjoy the support of the 38-strong
military/police faction and the 53-strong Regional
Representatives faction (FUD).