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Legal problems delay five regional elections: Minister
Advancing democracy: Home Minister Tjahjo Kumolo speaks to journalists after a meeting at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta
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Advancing democracy: Home Minister Tjahjo Kumolo speaks to journalists after a meeting at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta. (Courtesy of kemendagri.go.id) (Courtesy of kemendagri.go.id)
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span class="inline inline-center">Advancing democracy: Home Minister Tjahjo Kumolo speaks to journalists after a meeting at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta. (Courtesy of kemendagri.go.id)
Five regions had to postpone elections scheduled for Dec.9 because of various legal problems following lawsuits filed by several candidates against decisions taken by regional general elections commissions (KPUD) in their respective areas, a minister said on Wednesday.
Home Minister Tjahjo Kumolo said in Semarang, Central Java, on Wednesday that the KPUD and Election Supervisory Agency (Bawaslu) made their decisions on matters relating to the nomination of regional heads based on existing laws and regulations.
'Several candidate pairs filed lawsuits against their decisions at the State Administrative Court [PTUN] in their respective areas, and the courts upheld their lawsuits. The KPUD then filed appeals against the decisions made by the courts,' he said.
The minister further said two appeals submitted by the KPUDs in two regions were still in process while the other three appeals were still awaiting rulings from the Supreme Court (MA). He did not give details of the lawsuits or the five regions.
Tjahjo said it was hoped that the postponed elections could be held later this month after all of the legal problems were resolved as it is stipulated in law that election disputes must be resolved within 21 days at the latest.
'As the government, I ask that within the next two weeks, the legal problems should be settled. Thus, all scheduled regional elections can be held in December,' said Tjahjo.
According to the minister, it is crucial to hold all elections within schedule as they were closely related to the inaugurations of elected regional heads.
On Wednesday, 269 regencies and municipalities across Indonesia were scheduled to hold regional elections simultaneously. The Dec.9 elections are the first ever simultaneous local elections Indonesia has held throughout its history and is widely perceived as a milestone in the country's democracy.
Tjahjo admitted that vote buying had occurred during the elections. Five cases of vote buying were uncovered in Semarang and similar instances had probably occurred in other areas across Indonesia.
'It is really unfortunate that vote buying has occurred during the elections and these have happened not only in Semarang but also in other areas throughout Indonesia. This must be dealt with severely both during the revision of Law No.8/2015 on regional head elections and in the upcoming deliberation of a presidential election bill,' said Tjahjo, after he visited Polling Station 7 in Lempongsari sub-district, Semarang, on Wednesday.
Tjahjo said it was difficult to eliminate vote buying although all of the candidates had been called on to refrain from such practices. The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) also tightly monitored the organizing of the elections.
'That's why there will be tougher regulations in the revised Regional Head Elections Law. If a candidate pair is found guilty of vote buying, its nomination could be terminated. Ballot papers indicating vote buying could be annulled as well,' said Tjahjo.
In Semarang, the voter turnout stood at 70 percent, similar to the presidential election last year. (ebf)
