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View all search resultsRegional election bill meeting recessed to allow lobbying
The panel of House of Representatives leaders has agreedto halt the plenary meeting regarding the amendment of the regional electionbill to allow lobbying
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T
he panel of House of Representatives leaders has agreedto halt the plenary meeting regarding the amendment of the regional electionbill to allow lobbying. All nine factions were still arguing over severalclauses in the bill and therefore further lobbying between faction leaders andgovernment representatives was needed.
'Any complications must be discussed during the lobbying session. Faction leaders and the Home Minister [Gamawan Fauzi] are currently in deliberations with one another,' House deputy speaker Priyo Budi Santoso said on Thursday, as quoted by kompas.com.
During the faction presentation sessions, no side changed its opinion on the amendment. Reportedly, one of the main issues still drawing the most confusion was the issue of whether or not direct elections should be abolished in favor of regional leaders being chosen by legislative councils.
Three factions are supporting direct elections, including the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), the National Awakening Party (PKB) and the Hanura party. Five factions are in favor of abolishing direct elections, including the Gerindra party, Golkar party, United Development Party (PPP), National Mandate Party (PAN) and the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS).
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's Democratic Party, which is the strongest faction in the House, has yet to choose a side, but has favored direct elections with specific conditions. A total of 500 house representatives were participating in the meeting as of 6 p.m. (dyl/dic)
