Regional Elections Act Challenged In Constitutional Court

Jakarta, Sept 26 (Antara) - The Regional Elections Act that was recently approved by the House of Representatives (DPR) was immediately challenged in the Constitutional Court. "I will apply for a judicial review on the Election Law. On Monday (September 29), I will register the request in the court," Muhammad Andi Asrun, a member of the legal team of the applicant, stated here on Friday. Asrun pointed out that he represented the applicant`s team, which comprised 17 daily laborers, pollsters, governors, and members of the Regional Legislative Council (DPRD). "Indirect regional head elections betrayed the people`s rights to choose their regional leaders in a democratic manner," he noted. He remarked that the elections through the DPRD can have a dire effect as it could encourage money politics in the parliament. "The regional election law is endorsed, and the government has not implemented regional autonomy. Apparently, the legislative still wants decentralization of power," Asrun remarked. The House of Representatives (DPR), after a long debate in a plenary session early on Friday, finally decided through voting to endorse a bill on indirect regional head elections. "The results of the ballot showed that 135 DPR members voted for direct regional head elections and 361 voted against it," DPR Deputy Chairman Priyo Budi Santoso, who chaired the plenary session, stated in the wee hours here on Friday. The plenary session was held to arrive at a decision on a bill related to the regional head elections, which stipulates that they should be held by the DPRD or indirect elections. During the voting, several house faction members voted against their political party`s stance. In the voting, 11 Golkar Party faction members cast their votes in favor of holding direct regional head elections and 73 others voted against it. A total of 88 legislators of the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDIP) faction voted in favor of holding direct elections. The Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) faction saw 55 members voting in favor of holding indirect elections, while 44 members of the National Mandate Party (PAN) faction voted for indirect elections. There were 33 members from the United Development Party`s (PPP`s) faction who favored the elections through the DPRD, and 20 legislators from the National Awakening Party (PKB) faction agreed to hold direct elections. The Greater Indonesia Movement Party`s (Gerindra`s) 22 faction members decided to vote for indirect regional head elections. Ten legislators from the People`s Conscience Party (Hanura) faction voted for direct elections. In the meantime, there were six members of the Democratic Party (PD) who cast their votes in support of holding direct regional head elections.