Golkar Remains Committed to Fight For Indirect Election System

Jakarta (Antara Bali) - Golkar Party remains committed to support the passage of a bill to introduce an indirect system of electing regional heads, currently being discussed by the House of Representatives.

"The Golkar Party faction and other party factions grouped in the Red and White coalition remains solid to support the passage of the bill," the party's general chairman, Aburizal Bakrie, said here on Saturday.

He said one basis for reverting to the system of election of provincial governors, district heads and city mayors to the regional legislative assemblies (DPRD) is the state ideology "Pancasila" (five principles), especially principle number 4.

Aburizal said a lot of things also needed to be mended to ensure national unity by strengthening the implementation of Pancasila.

"Seeing the current situation, there are things that need to be improved. Many laws made in 2002-2005 have had no philosophical and ideological validity but only judicial validity," he said.

He said the bill, if passed, would be part of a series of changes to other laws that need to be improved.

Aburizal also cited the cost as another reason for his support for the bill.

He said the government would have to spend Rp70 trillion for hundreds of direct regional elections in 2015.

"I was shocked to hear that. Imagine how much would be the cost for 500 elections in the years ahead. It could be worth more than Rp160 trillion," he said.

Ical said it would be better for the funds to be used for road infrastructure, schools, hospital development and other such essential needs.

"That is why Golkar would fight it. So, it is not for power but it is in line with the dream of the founders of the republic," he said. (WDY)