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Jakarta Post

Legislators baffled by conflicting interests in election bill

Nurul Fitri Ramadhani (The Jakarta Post)
Jakarta
Mon, March 27, 2017

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Legislators baffled by conflicting interests in election bill Elections Supervisory Agency (Bawaslu) head Muhammad (right) talks with General Elections Commission (KPU) head Juri Ardiantoro (left) prior to a hearing on the 2017 regional elections at House Commission II in Jakarta on Jan. 13. (Antara/Wahyu Putro A.)

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awmakers were baffled on Monday on whether they should begin the selection of new members of the General Elections Commission (KPU) and Elections Supervisory Agency (Bawaslu) as they intend to create a new provision in the election bill that will affect the membership of these bodies.

Earlier, most factions on House Commission II overseeing home affairs planned to postpone the candidate interview process until the bill’s deliberation since they plan to put in a new revision that will enable political party members to become members of the bodies. 

The legislators will also ask the government to extend the tenure of the current KPU and Bawaslu commissioners. The tenure period is scheduled to end on April 12.

But some of the factions still disagree over the new provision, which would revive an old stipulation that caused problems ahead of elections in the past and is banned by the Constitution.

Commission II member Hetifah Sjaifudian of the Golkar Party said the interview process should be carried out soon.

She said the House should not allow political party members to become election organizers.

"That's not the right way because the independence of the KPU and Bawaslu must be absolute," she said.

House Deputy Speaker Fadli Zon of the Gerindra Party insisted that the tenure of the current commissioners should be extended because the new commissioners should wait until the conclusion of the bill’s deliberation.

"[The government] just need to issue a regulation in a lieu of law [for the extension]," Fadli said. (wit)

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