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Incumbents should resign before seeking re-election: Observers
As part of efforts to reduce corruption at the regional level, activists have urged lawmakers to require incumbent local leaders to resign their posts before seeking re-election.
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Heads start – Central Java governor Ganjar Pranowo inaugurates 17 regional heads elected in last year's elections in Pancasila Square, Semarang, on Feb.17.
(thejakartapost.com/Suherdjoko)
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s part of efforts to reduce corruption at the regional level, activists have urged lawmakers to require incumbent local leaders to resign their posts before seeking re-election.
Indonesian Legal Aid Institute Foundation (YLBHI) advocacy director Bahrain said in Jakarta on Thursday that incumbents frequently used regional funds to finance their re-election campaigns.
“If they don't resign, it's easy for them to use state funds to influence voters,”Bahrain warned, noting the frequent arrests of local leaders for such misuse of state money.
The House of Representatives is deliberating a revision of the 2015 regional election law, but has yet to reach an agreement on whether regional head candidates should be required to resign in order to stand again.
The current law obliges legislators, soldiers, police officers and civil servants to submit a resignation letter if they want to contest an election, in line with a judicial review decided by the Constitutional Court in July 2015.
Association for Elections and Democracy (Perludem) researcher Heroik Pratama agreed with Bahrain, saying the requirement was necessary to ensure equality between incumbents and new candidates.
“Incumbents could exploit civil servants to benefit them in the election. As such, with this proposal from the House [to scrap the resignation requirement], how can we create a fair competition for all?” he asked. (vps/bbn)
