Dian Kuswandini, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Wed, 10/08/2008 10:32 AM | National
Informal lobbying within the House of Representatives special committee deliberating the presidential election bill is expected to expedite a decision on the minimum percentage of votes a party must secure to nominate a presidential candidate.
Legislator Ganjar Pranowo of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) said in Jakarta on Tuesday the special committee members were meeting informally in order to reach a common understanding on the issue before the final meeting next week.
"Some members tend to be 'timid' during formal deliberations, which are presided over by the committee chairman," said Ganjar, a member of the House's Commission II overseeing home affairs.
"Informal lobbying, including one on ones, is more effective. It is expected to melt the tension."
The committee has yet to decide on the minimum percentage of the total votes in the 2009 legislative elections a party must win to be eligible to elect a presidential candidate, with factions suggesting the threshold be set at between 15 and 30 percent.
The Golkar Party, winner of the last legislative election, proposed the mark be set at 30 percent. The United Development Party (PPP) and the Democratic Pioneer Star Party (PBPD) have proposed 15 and 20 percent, respectively. The PDI-P and the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) said 15-30 percent. The National Mandate Party (PAN), the Democrat Party (PD), the Prosperous Peace Party (PDS), the Star Reform Party (PBR) and the National Awakening Party (PKB) agree the threshold should be set at 15-20 percent.
Ganjar said the PDI-P had suggested the relatively high mark of 15-30 percent to ensure a more permanent contingent of parties in the House and to save on state spending during elections.
"We don't want temporary support. We can learn from the case of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, who has been criticized of late by his own supporters at the House," he said.
Yudhoyono only received support from his own Democratic Party and the Crescent and Star Party (PBB) during the first round of the presidential election in 2004. In the second round, he received backing from the Golkar Party and other parties.
Because the support Yudhoyono initially received was fragmented, Ganjar said, the coalition in the House that supports his now is weak, resulting in current strong criticism in the final year of his tenure.
"We also want to push for a more affordable election next year. If a candidate can receive strong support, there's a possibility that there will only need to be one round of elections and that will save money."
As an example, he cited the two-round East Java gubernatorial election that cost Rp 1.3 trillion (US$134 million) per round.
Another committee member Lena Maryana Mukti of the PPP said her party would stick to its 15 percent proposal, as 30 percent would be too high for most parties to meet.
"It's a moderate number and it will provide the public with more presidential candidates. Thus, it will offer them more alternatives," she said.
"With more candidates running in 2009, both the public and the candidates can learn and they will be more prepared for the 2014 election."
Lena said the current presidential election law set the minimum requirement at 15 percent, but that the figure had not been kept to in the 2004 election.
"We should return to what the law suggests."
Informal lobbying within the House of Representatives special committee deliberating the presidential election bill is expected to expedite a decision on the minimum percentage of votes a party must secure to nominate a presidential candidate.
Legislator Ganjar Pranowo of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) said in Jakarta on Tuesday the special committee members were meeting informally in order to reach a common understanding on the issue before the final meeting next week.
"Some members tend to be 'timid' during formal deliberations, which are presided over by the committee chairman," said Ganjar, a member of the House's Commission II overseeing home affairs.
"Informal lobbying, including one on ones, is more effective. It is expected to melt the tension."
The committee has yet to decide on the minimum percentage of the total votes in the 2009 legislative elections a party must win to be eligible to elect a presidential candidate, with factions suggesting the threshold be set at between 15 and 30 percent.
The Golkar Party, winner of the last legislative election, proposed the mark be set at 30 percent. The United Development Party (PPP) and the Democratic Pioneer Star Party (PBPD) have proposed 15 and 20 percent, respectively. The PDI-P and the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) said 15-30 percent. The National Mandate Party (PAN), the Democrat Party (PD), the Prosperous Peace Party (PDS), the Star Reform Party (PBR) and the National Awakening Party (PKB) agree the threshold should be set at 15-20 percent.
Ganjar said the PDI-P had suggested the relatively high mark of 15-30 percent to ensure a more permanent contingent of parties in the House and to save on state spending during elections.
"We don't want temporary support. We can learn from the case of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, who has been criticized of late by his own supporters at the House," he said.
Yudhoyono only received support from his own Democratic Party and the Crescent and Star Party (PBB) during the first round of the presidential election in 2004. In the second round, he received backing from the Golkar Party and other parties.
Because the support Yudhoyono initially received was fragmented, Ganjar said, the coalition in the House that supports his now is weak, resulting in current strong criticism in the final year of his tenure.
"We also want to push for a more affordable election next year. If a candidate can receive strong support, there's a possibility that there will only need to be one round of elections and that will save money."
As an example, he cited the two-round East Java gubernatorial election that cost Rp 1.3 trillion (US$134 million) per round.
Another committee member Lena Maryana Mukti of the PPP said her party would stick to its 15 percent proposal, as 30 percent would be too high for most parties to meet.
"It's a moderate number and it will provide the public with more presidential candidates. Thus, it will offer them more alternatives," she said.
"With more candidates running in 2009, both the public and the candidates can learn and they will be more prepared for the 2014 election."
Lena said the current presidential election law set the minimum requirement at 15 percent, but that the figure had not been kept to in the 2004 election.
"We should return to what the law suggests."
