Camelia Pasandaran – In what is sure to be a highly controversial move, the Ministry of Home Affairs is moving to increase eligibility criteria for political candidates in a move clearly aimed at preventing celebrities from running for office.
"The 2004 Regional Governance Law requires regional heads to have good moral standards," Home Affairs Minister Gamawan Fauzi said at the Presidential Palace complex on Friday. "If they are proven to have committed adultery, they will be banned from" attempting to contest the elections.
Under the current law, there are already 16 requirements that must be met for a person to run, including possessing a high school diploma, never having been imprisoned for a crime punishable by more than five years in jail and being at least 30 years of age.
However, with a number of racy celebrities – including Julia Perez – who have admitted to having little political experience throwing their hats into the ring for this year's 224 regional and municipal elections, the government is taking further steps.
"We're going to add another requirement for candidates to have enough experience in government or in civil organizations," Gamawan said. "This is to avoid people who know nothing about how to lead a region suddenly become district head just because of popularity."
Gamawan, however, denied suggestions the new requirement plan had been triggered by the celebrities announcing their intentions to contest this year's polls.
The new requirement will be added to the revisions of 2004 Regional Governance Law that is being drafted by government. It is expected to soon be submitted to the House of Representatives.
Julia, known for her sexy persona, created an immediate stir after she announced that she was hoping to become the next district head of Pacitan in East Java. Pacitan is the hometown of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, who is known for conservative views of anything sexual.
Julia, also known as Jupe, has previously stated that she has much to learn about politics but is willing to learn.