Contents of "Perppu Pilkada" Unveiled

Jakarta (Antara Bali) - The contents of two government regulations in lieu of the law on regional elections (pilkada) signed by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono were unveiled here on Friday.

Deputy Minister of Law and Human Rights Denny Indrayana noted in a press statement unveiling the contents of "Perppu Pilkada" that "the substance of Perppu No. 1/2014 is a response to the criticism, inputs, and evaluation results conveyed by various quarters so far."

President Yudhoyono on Thursday evening signed Perppu Number 1 of 2014 on the election of provincial governors, district heads, and city mayors to revoke Law Number 22 of 2014 regulating indirect elections by the regional legislative assembly (DPRD) and Perppu Number 2 of 2014.

Perppu Number 2 of 2014 on regional government relinquishes DPRD of its duty and authority to elect regional heads as stated in Law Number 23 of 2014 on regional government.

Perppu Pilkada stated that the election of provincial governors, district heads, and city mayors should be done directly by the people.  

It also revokes and declares Law Number 22 of 2014 on the election of provincial governors, district heads, and city mayors and the implementation of indirect elections by the DPRD as invalid.  

Perppu Pilkada also necessitates the public scrutiny of candidates to prevent the appointment of candidates with poor integrity and low ability and to facilitate significant budget cuts, restriction on open rallies to reduce costs and prevent horizontal conflicts, and ensure the accountability of campaign funds.

It bans money politics and issuing payments to political parties to support a candidate that has the potential to abuse power, to ban black campaigning that may trigger conflicts and to prohibit the involvement of the state apparatus that would affect neutrality.

Perppu Pilkada prohibits the decision to revoke the positions of state apparatuses participating in Pilkada as they did not support the election of the candidates.

With regard to the disputes, the regulation necessitates clear, accountable, and transparent rules for their settlement. It also requires the candidates to take accountability for the damage done by their supporters.

The settlement of disputes will only be done at the High Court and Supreme Court. Lawsuits may only be submitted if the results have the potential to significantly affect the decision of the General Elections Commission.

Perppu Pilkada requires holding simultaneous elections and the threshold for a political party or a group of political parties to nominate candidates with the General Election Commission.

Under the regulation, the incumbents are not allowed to use government programs or activities for campaign purposes.

To avoid overlapping, President Yudhoyono has issued Perppu Number 2 of 2014 to amend Law Number 23 of 2014 on regional government.

Perppu Number 2 of 2014 comprises two important aspects, which are removing the authority of the provincial DPRD to propose the appointment or dismissal of a governor and/or vice governor to the Ministry of Home Affairs for approval of the appointment or dismissal by the president.

It also eradicates the duty and authority of district or city level DPRD to propose the appointment or dismissal of a district head or city mayor or a district deputy head or deputy city mayor to the Ministry of Home Affairs through the provincial governor as a representative of the central government for approval of the appointment or dismissal. (WDY)