Jakarta (Antara Bali) -- President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono announced that he will soon issue a perppu (government regulation in lieu of law) to support direct regional elections, but with some improvements to the system.
The president, who is also the General Chairman of the Democratic Party, made the statement here on Tuesday while presiding over a party meeting.
The meeting aimed to bring about a consolidation following the party's decision to walk out of the plenary session of the parliament early on Friday when the bill on regional election was passed into law. This bill provides for electing provincial governors, district heads and city mayors indirectly through regional legislative assemblies.
"I am in the process of formulating a perppu, which I will submit to the DPR (House of Representatives)," Yudhoyono said.
He explained that the government shared the Democratic Party's view and supported the system of direct regional elections (pilkada) with some improvements.
Furthermore, he admitted that his decision to formulate the perppu to regulate the system was made after his party failed to fight against the passage of the bill.
"I will receive the Pilkada Bill by tomorrow. As a rule, I have to sign it since it was passed at a plenary meeting. After signing the bill, I will issue a perppu to try and revert to the system of direct pilkada as I take the public's interests into serious consideration," he noted.
Yudhoyono pointed out that issuing the perppu was a political risk he had to take. He will place his suggestions before the DPR, regardless of whether these are accepted.
"If the DPR understands that people support direct elections, they may concede that demand," he added.
As the General Chairman of the Democratic Party, Yudhoyono stressed that he will fight for his party's right to direct elections whenever necessary.
The president and his party have received a lot of criticism from various quarters following the passage of the Pilkada Bill, which is set to restore the earlier system of indirect regional elections.
Moreover, the passage of the bill had the full support of the Red and White coalition of political parties that supports President-elect Jokowi's rival duo, Prabowo Subianto and Hatta Rajasa.
The coalition comprises the Golkar Party, the Great Indonesia Movement Party (Gerindra), the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS), the United Development Party (PPP) and the National Mandate Party (PAN).
Jokowi's Indonesia Democratic Party Struggle (PDIP), along with the Nation Awakening Party (PKB) and the People's Conscience Party (Hanura), were in favor of direct pilkada. (WDY)
COPYRIGHT © ANTARA News Bali 2014
The president, who is also the General Chairman of the Democratic Party, made the statement here on Tuesday while presiding over a party meeting.
The meeting aimed to bring about a consolidation following the party's decision to walk out of the plenary session of the parliament early on Friday when the bill on regional election was passed into law. This bill provides for electing provincial governors, district heads and city mayors indirectly through regional legislative assemblies.
"I am in the process of formulating a perppu, which I will submit to the DPR (House of Representatives)," Yudhoyono said.
He explained that the government shared the Democratic Party's view and supported the system of direct regional elections (pilkada) with some improvements.
Furthermore, he admitted that his decision to formulate the perppu to regulate the system was made after his party failed to fight against the passage of the bill.
"I will receive the Pilkada Bill by tomorrow. As a rule, I have to sign it since it was passed at a plenary meeting. After signing the bill, I will issue a perppu to try and revert to the system of direct pilkada as I take the public's interests into serious consideration," he noted.
Yudhoyono pointed out that issuing the perppu was a political risk he had to take. He will place his suggestions before the DPR, regardless of whether these are accepted.
"If the DPR understands that people support direct elections, they may concede that demand," he added.
As the General Chairman of the Democratic Party, Yudhoyono stressed that he will fight for his party's right to direct elections whenever necessary.
The president and his party have received a lot of criticism from various quarters following the passage of the Pilkada Bill, which is set to restore the earlier system of indirect regional elections.
Moreover, the passage of the bill had the full support of the Red and White coalition of political parties that supports President-elect Jokowi's rival duo, Prabowo Subianto and Hatta Rajasa.
The coalition comprises the Golkar Party, the Great Indonesia Movement Party (Gerindra), the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS), the United Development Party (PPP) and the National Mandate Party (PAN).
Jokowi's Indonesia Democratic Party Struggle (PDIP), along with the Nation Awakening Party (PKB) and the People's Conscience Party (Hanura), were in favor of direct pilkada. (WDY)
Editor : I Gusti Bagus Widyantara
COPYRIGHT © ANTARA News Bali 2014