Riau governor elections now open to independents

Rizal Harahap ,  The Jakarta Post ,  Pekanbaru   |  Fri, 05/02/2008 1:33 PM  |  The Archipelago

The General Elections Commission (KPU) has announced that independent candidates will be eligible to contest Riau's gubernatorial election in September.

Chairman of the Riau chapter of the KPU, Raja Syofyan Samad, said, in line with recent changes to the law on regional administrations, independent candidates would be allowed to contest the poll, which begins with the registration of candidates in June.

"We anticipated the revision of the 2004 law on regional administrations, and we have no objections to implementing the newly revised law," he said.

The law was revised in compliance with a verdict last year of the Constitutional Court that allowed independent candidates to contest local elections.

Syofyan said that in line with the administrative requirements established by the law, an independent candidate was required to demonstrate support from at least 5 percent of the population, or 240,000 people, before being allowed to run.

"The political support should come from at least 50 percent of 11 regencies and subdistricts in the province, and will be verified through a petition after the candidate registers with the KPUD," he said.

Syofyan said the poll commission would likely propose a revision of the Rp 140 billion budget for the election if independent candidates joined the race because the verification process would be costlier and more time consuming.

"We are prepared with qualified human resources to verify the political support," he said.

He added the registration for candidates would be open June 25 to July 1.

Istiawati Ayus, a regional representative from the province, said that besides preparing to run in the election as an independent candidate, she was still seeking the support of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle, Indonesian Labor Party and the Prosperous Justice Party.

"I have two ways to participate in the election, but I must choose the one that give me the best chance to win the election," she said.

Political analyst Ali Yusri of Riau University doubted an independent candidate could win the election because of the lack of preparation time.

"Besides seeking political support in the next two weeks, independents will also be looking for running mates and the huge amount of money necessary to cover their campaign activities," he said.

He said, however, the emergence of independents would force political parties and their candidates to better prepare for the elections, including the selection of running mates, adding this is "healthy for democracy".

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