West Java legislative council set gubernatorial election for this week
West Java legislative council set gubernatorial election for this week
The Jakarta Post, Bandung, West Java
The West Java council agreed to hold the gubernatorial
election on Wednesday this week at the earliest, or two days
later than planned due to late government approval of the
councillors proposed candidates.
Election committee deputy head Kurdi Moekri said the election
could be held on Wednesday or Thursday.
He said the new election date followed a meeting with Minister
of Home Affairs Hari Sabarno on Monday night.
"President Megawati (Soekarnoputri) through her Home Affairs
Minister has stated her approval of the council's plenary meeting
to vote for our governor," he said late Monday.
Councillors initially planned to hold the election on May 19,
but delayed it after Hari ordered them to verify whether all
candidates had met administrative requirements.
After ensuring all requirements were met, the councillors
resubmitted the names of the two pairs of contestants in their
meeting with the minister on Monday.
The first pair is Tayo Tarmadi and Rudy Harsa Tanaya who have
been nominated by the factions of the National Awakening Party
and the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-Perjuangan).
The second pair is Danny Setiawan and Nurman Abdul Hakim,
nominated by the Golkar and the United Development Party
factions.
Tayo and Rudy could not produce their senior high school
diplomas, which they said they had misplaced. Danny needed a
permit from the Bandung prosecutors' office as he is being
investigated for his alleged involvement in a Rp 4.1 billion
corruption case.
Gubernatorial elections in other provinces like in North
Sumatra face similar delays over fears that councillors elect
candidates who have not met the election requirements.
The tighter screening followed the controversy over the
election of Lampung governor Alzier Dianis Thabranie who is
facing graft charges.
President Megawati refused to approve his election, prompting
protests from the Lampung provincial legislature.
With the implementation of regional autonomy in 2001, the
elections of governors, regents and mayors rests with the local
council.