Outgoing executive coup, which proposes a norm overturning the elections under which governors and mayors would be selected by local assemblies, not citizens. The proposal before Parliament; Civil Society launches petition for its cancellation. Motion moved by Subianto Party, defeated at the polls in the race for president.

Jakarta (AsiaNews) - Indonesian civil society is in revolt against the proposal of the outgoing government, which - in less than a month and a half after the expiry of the mandate - intends to amend the procedures for regional elections. The bill is the work of the Ministry of the Interior and has already been tabled in Parliament; it, according to the promoters, will put an end to the practice of "buying" of votes and the so-called "money politics." However, it will also put an end to the direct election of candidates for the position of district chief, mayor and provincial governor and thus has provoked outrage and anger among the population.

Interior Ministry sources claim that the proposal will minimize the risk of selling votes, for cash or other benefits; at the same time, it aims to reduce the government's financial budget. It provides for the popular election of regional, district and provincial representatives; it will then fall to these assemblies to choose the district heads, mayors and governors "indirectly", excluding citizens from voting.

The proposal is being considered by the Parliament, which will have until the end of September to discuss the law and issue a final text. This should also be the last act of the outgoing assembly, before the dissolution of Parliament and the installation of the new Parliament, the new head of state and his executive.

Indonesian civil society has reacted with outrage and indignation at the proposal, accusing the political class of "dirty politicking," a few weeks of ahead of the official installation of the new President Joko Widodo "Jokowi", on October 28. It should be emphasized that the proposed electoral reform is advanced and strongly supported by the "Red and White" coalition whose candidate Prabowo Subianto was defeated in the race for the presidency in July.

In recent weeks, also the party of the incumbent president Yudhoyono, the Democrat Party, has decided to join the Subianto coalition, which in spite of the Constitutional Court ruling refuses to  admit defeat to Widodo. Following the ruling, the Subianto loyalists lodged a civil lawsuit, hoping to overturn the outcome of the polls and deliver the country to the former general.

Not only activists and intellectuals, but also a large group of local administrators of various levels are protesting the bill.  They strongly support the principle of direct elections and warn any change would be comparable to a "theft" of democracy. The current governor of Jakarta Tjahaja Basuki Purnama, is leading protests.  He has resigned from his own Gerindra Prabowo Subianto Party accusing it of violating the democratic spirit. "I will be a leader of a sovereign and independent Jakarta," he added. Civil society movements have also decided to launch a public petition, asking for the support to all citizens to counter this "dirty politicking".(MH)

 

• Indonesia
• politics
• democracy
• election
• vote
• local
• administrators
• protest