REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's Democrat Party finally declared support to the continuation of the direct system of election of regional heads, known locally as "pilkada".
However "the party has 10-point requirements (with regard to its implementation). If all of the notes are included in the bill the Democrat Party will support the direct system of regional head election," the party's associate chairman Syarief Hasan said at a press conference at the party headquarters here on Thursday.
The ten requirements include public examination into the integrity and competency of regional head candidates, cost efficiency, campaign rules, limitation of outdoor rallies, campaign fund accountability, ban on using a political party as a vehicle for rent or paying parties to be nominated as their candidates, slander and black campaigning.
Others include bans on involving government officials in the election, discharging officials after elections and referring responsibility for settlement of election disputes and prevention of violence to candidates.
"If a candidate violates one of the requirements he/she must be disqualified," he said.
Syafief Hasan said the decision was made among other things because the direct pilkada was first held during the government of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono who is also the general chairman of the party.
He admitted that a lot of shortages were still found in the implementation of pilkada to choose provincial governor, district head and city mayor so far and therefore the Democrat Party has given a number of notes for the improvement of the system.
He said the Democrat Party hoped that the pilkada which has so far been democratic in principle was what the people really demanded.
"So far a lot of excesses have happened that have given effects on economic, political, social, cultural life of the people as well as nationhood and statehood. Basically the Democrat Party wishes to make an improvement on the implementation of the system so that it will be more perfect," he said.
Syarief on the occasion was flanked by a number of party leaders including executive director Toto Riyanto, deputy chairman of the Democrat Party faction in the House of Representatives, Andi Timo Pangerang.
The bill on pilkada is currently being discussed in the parliament and a decision on it is expected to be made later this month.
The Red and White coalition consisting of Golkar Party, the Great Movement Party (Gerindra), the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS), the United Development Party (PPP), the National Mandate Party (PAN) has so far supported changing the current direct system of pilkada into an indirect system through regional legislative assemblies (DPRD).
Many quarters have expressed opposition to their idea including the Indonesia Democratic Party Struggle (PDIP).
In the recent presidential election PDIP was supported by the National Democrat (Nasdem), the Nation Awakening Party (PKB), the People's Conscience Party (Hanura) and the Indonesia Unity and Justice (PKPI) in its bid to make its cadre, Joko Widodo, win.
Joko Widodo who paired with Jusuf Kalla indeed did win beating Prabowo Subianto from Gerindra who was supported by political parties now in the Red and White coalition plus cadres from the Democrat Party.
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