Court promises to settle election disputes in 21 days

The Jakarta Post   |  Fri, 01/16/2009 9:48 PM  |  National

The Constitutional Court has pledged to settle disputes over legislative elections in 21 days at the most to prevent risk of disrupting the presidential election schedule.

"We are still discussing the final say with the KPU, but we would prefer to accelerate the settlement of disputes and have them done with in 21 days," Court Chairman Mahfud MD told reporters on Friday.

Constitutional Court law allows a maximum of 30 days to settle election disputes.

However, the General Elections Commission (KPU) warned that taking 30 days to settle disputes would delay presidential elections, scheduled for July 28.

The elections body sets the schedule for the presidential elections with the assumption that the court will have settled the poll disputes within the next 17 days.

KPU member Andi Nurpati said that the presidential election could be moved back one month, to August, and a run off, if needed, would take place after Oct. 20 -- the date set for the new government to take office.

The 2008 election law states that political parties have three days altering voting closes to lodge complaints with the KPU and delay vote counting.
 

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