Women legislative candidates cheated

Women legislative candidates cheated

JAKARTA: The Center for Electoral Reform (Cetro) said on
Friday the low representation of women in the House of
Representatives was a result of the poor electoral system and the
reluctance of political parties to accept women politicians.

"Many women legislative candidates were "cheated" by the
system and the parties," Cetro's program director Ani Sutjipto
said in a discussion on women and politics at the Office of the
State Minister for Women's Empowerment.

She said many political parties intentionally placed women
candidates lower down on the list or in areas that were not their
strongholds.

Despite the 30 percent quota recommended by the Election Law,
only 61 women gained a seat in the House in the April 5 election
or 11 percent of the 550-strong House. -- JP