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No regional election perppu from president, deadlock remains

President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo will not be issuing a government regulation in lieu of law (perppu) regarding stalemates happening in regions where only one candidate is registered

The Jakarta Post
Jakarta
Wed, August 5, 2015

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No regional election perppu from president, deadlock remains

P

resident Joko "Jokowi" Widodo will not be issuing a government regulation in lieu of law (perppu) regarding stalemates happening in regions where only one candidate is registered.

After considering the matter with Vice President Jusuf Kalla, the General Elections Commission (KPU), the Election Organizers Ethics Council (DKPP) and the Elections Supervisory Agency (Bawaslu) decided to wait for Bawaslu to issue a recommendation to resolve the situation.

'€œThe President will not issue a perppu,'€ said head of KPU Husni Malik after the meeting, as quoted by tempo.co.

The council has opted to go by the 2011 election law and the 2015 regional election law, which mentioned Bawaslu'€™s authority to issue a recommendation to override KPU'€™s law. Thus, KPU is to wait on Bawaslu'€™s recommendation to resolve the deadlock.

Bawaslu commissioner Nasrullah stated on Monday that he would prefer another extension for the candidate registration. Delaying the elections, according to him, will only increase the cost of the elections. He also rejects the option of allowing only one candidate to be on the ballot.

The current 2015 regional elections law stipulates that if there is only one candidate registered '€“ even after the extended registration period '€“ then the election will be postponed until the next simultaneous regional election.

This law, however, if it applies, would lead to a lack of leadership in seven regions where only one candidate registered. Surabaya, Tasikmalaya, Blitar, Pacitan, Mataram, Samarinda and Timor Tengah Utara, which will be without any mayor or government until the next simultaneous regional elections in 2017. (rad/kes)(++++)

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