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).