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Jakarta Post

KPU defends decision on Berkarya, Garuda

News Desk (The Jakarta Post)
Jakarta
Tue, December 19, 2017

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KPU defends decision on Berkarya, Garuda General Elections Commission (KPU) chairman Arief Budiman shows a ballot box to journalists at a press conference at the commission's headquarters in Jakarta, in this file photo taken on Nov. 15. (JP/Wendra Ajistyatama)

T

he General Elections Commission (KPU) has defended its decision not to allow two political newcomers, the Berkarya Party and the Garuda Party, to contest the 2019 legislative and presidential elections.

Last week, the KPU announced that the two parties had failed the KPU's administrative assessment and therefore were not eligible to undergo due diligence checks, which is the next stage in determining whether a party can participate in an election.

“KPU's decision is in line with the law. The two parties have received our explanation. They failed to register the minimum number of members required,” said the commission’s chairman Hasyim Azhari on Tuesday, as quoted by Kompas.com.

According to the 2017 General Elections Law, a political party that wants to participate in an election must have at least one member in every 1,000 people in each regency or municipality across the country.

Berkarya and Garuda had immediately filed their complaints to the Elections Supervisory Agency (Bawaslu) to challenge KPU's decision.

Bawaslu will first verify the complaints before holding a hearing, said Bawaslu member Rahmat Bagja.

It will take around 12 days for Bawaslu to make a decision on the case.

Berkarya's secretary-general Badarudin Andi Picunang said the KPU had violated their rights since the assessments did not include party members who do not have electronic ID cards.

Last week, KPU declared that 12 other parties, mostly large parties that have participated in past elections, had passed the administrative assessments. (vla/ipa)

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