Jakarta – Indonesia's parliament Monday approved a proposal to hold a special session of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) to change electoral laws and set the date for general elections. The proposal was made by President B.J. Habibie.

The 1,000-member MPR, the country's top decision-making body, will relax restrictions on the number of political parties and bring in other changes in electoral laws before announcing new general elections which are likely to be held next year, the government has said. The parliament however did not set a date for the MPR session.

Two of Indonesia's leading political figures are likely to join hands before the elections, the Indonesian Observer newspaper reported on Monday. The newspaper quoted Muslim leader Abdurrahman Wahid as saying he would help set up a nationalist party which would include opposition leader Megawati Sukarnoputri and other leading political figures. He did not give details and Megawati was not available for comment.

Indonesia currently recognizes only three political parties – the ruling Golkar, the United Development Party (PPP) and the PDI. But this is likely to be changed under political reforms planned in the wake of the resignation of long-ruling president Suharto last month.

Many other political figures are also likely to set up new political parties. Another key Muslim leader, Amien Rais, is believed to be ready to throw his hat into the ring but has yet to make any announcement. Others likely to contest the general elections include Sri Bintang Pamungkas, a former PPP legislator and one of the first political prisoners released when Habibie took power, and dissidents within Golkar. Habibie has said the MPR will be re-constituted after the parliamentary elections and will choose a president and vice-president by the end of 1999. He has said he will not stand.

[According to a June 29 report by Dow Jones Newswires, Habibie, who was speaking with Muslim students at the palace, said he didn't rule out another candidacy saying it was up to the Indonesian people. On June 4, Republika reported home affairs minister, Syarwan Hamid, as saying that in order to participate in elections, new parties must have supporters in 14 provinces totaling 1% of eligible voters and that they must be open to people from all ethnic, religious, racial and gender groups. He specifically cited the recently formed Women's Party which excludes men from its membership - James Balowski.]