Election Bill Too Listless to Pass
Friday, 29 February, 2008 | 16:27 WIB

TEMPO Interactive, Jakarta: After tough lobbies, the House of Representatives (DPR) plenary session’s agenda of deciding crucial materials of two General Election bills was delayed until this Monday (3/3). The compromise effort was a deadlock and the DPR members were still divided onto different sides until the session was closed at around 9.15pm WIB (Western Indonesia Time).

“The remaining vote calculation and determining the elected candidate materials were concluded by voting on Monday at 9.00am WIB,” said DPR Chairman Agung Laksono, who led the meeting at the Parliament Complex, yesterday (28/2).

The lobby carried out among factions up to the end of the session did not result in an agreement as regards the two matters. The United Development faction, Democratic Party and National Mandate Party (PAN) wanted the remaining vote calculation ended at the level of the election area, while other factions wanted the remaining votes to be withdrawn to the provincial level.

In terms of the material on an elected candidate placement, the United Development faction, PAN and Justice and Prosperous Party (PKS) were on the same side. They suggested that if an elected candidate has more than 30 percent of the votes, the candidate is determined based on the most votes. The other factions said that the elected candidate is determined based on the serial number.

According to Agung Laksono, the delay in the decision making was because the Election Bill’s Special Committee has not yet prepared the addition of decrees on election areas. “On the other hand, the decree materials which have been agreed upon are to be passed today.”
Head of the Election Bill Special Committee, Ferry Mursyidan Baldan, disputed Agung’s accusation. “About the election areas addition, whether
or not there’s a delay, is decided afterward ,” he said.

Effendy Choirie, Head of the National Awakening (PKB) faction, said the voting delay was first suggested by the Democratic faction in the lobby forum. The suggestion was supported by the Golkar Party and other factions. “Those who want voting today are only PKB, Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) and PKS,” said Effendy. He said that the reason for the delay was unclear.

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