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Dems announces support for regional direct elections
Acting Democratic Party chairman Syariefuddin Hasan has announcedthe party's decision to support direct elections of regional leaders
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cting Democratic Party chairman Syariefuddin Hasan has announcedthe party's decision to support direct elections of regional leaders. He said thedecision reflected the party's commitment todemocracy.
'We have decided to lend our support to regional direct elections with making needed improvements to the mechanism,' Syarief told a press conference on Thursday, as quoted by kompas.com.
He then cited his party's position as a balance in the country's political arena, meaning that Democratic Party would support the upcoming administration's working programs that benefited the people, but it wouldn't hesitate to adopt a different stance if the public's interest was at stake.
Previously, Democratic Party chairman Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono had stated that he supported the method of direct elections.
This decision by the Democratic Party, which holds 148 seats in the House of Representatives, strengthens the coalition of parties that support direct elections; namely, the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), which holds 94 House seats; the Hanura Party (17 seats), and the National Awakening Party (PKB), which has 28 seats.
Together, they account for 287 seats, surpassing the 273 seats held by parties under Prabowo Subianto's Red-and-White Coalition; namely, the Gerindra Party (26 seats); the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) with 57 seats; the United Development Party (PPP) with 38 seats; the National Mandate Party (PAN) with 46 seats, and the Golkar Party with 106 seats.(dic)
