President Signs Two Perppus Regional Elections

Jakarta (Antara Bali) - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has signed two government regulations in lieu of the law (Perppu) on regional elections following the passage of the law by the House of Representatives (DPR) recently.

"I have just signed two Perppus," he said at a press conference at the Merdeka Palace here on Thrusday evening.

The DPR passed a bill to regulate indirect regional elections last Friday. The passage of the bill has caused an uproar and criticism on President Yudhoyono and his Democrat Party that walked out from the vote to allow the bill to be passed.

President Yudhoyono said Perppu Number 1 of 2014 is about election of provincial governors, district heads and city mayors and at the same time revokes Law Number 22 of 2014 that regulates indirect election by the Regional Legislative Assembly (DPRD).

He said as a consequence and to prevent legal uncertainty he also produced Perppu Number 2 of 2014 on regional government that eradicates DPRD's task and authority to elect regional heads as stated in Law Number 23/2014 on regional government.

The President said the signing of the Perppus was done as a  concrete effort by him to fight along with the people for the preservation of the direct system of regional election.

"Allow me to fight for the sovereignty of the people and democracy," as a president who has been elected through a direct system twice, he said.

The president was flanked by vice president Boediono, coordinating minister for political, security and legal affairs Djoko Suyanto, coordinating minister for economic affairs Chairul Tanjung, coordinating minister for people's welfare Agung Laksono, home affairs minister Gamawan Fauzi, minister of law and human rights Amir Syamsudin, national police chief Sutarman, attorney general Basrief Arief and head of State Intelligence Agency, Marciano Norman.

Gamawan Fauzi said earlier that the government had also prepared other options in case the Perppus are rejected by DPR.

"Before the Perppus are issued they have certainly been studied from various aspects. What is certain is Perppu is the subjective right of the President while the objective right belongs to DPR and so let us just wait and see for the DPR's decision," he said.

He said the Perppus were made based on three criteria based on the constitutional court's ruling number 138 of 2009 namely urgency, absence of law and needs for legal certainty. (WDY)