Jenny Grant, Jakarta – The court ruling allowing ministers to campaign will undermine public confidence in a fair poll and could threaten the smooth running of the election, analysts said.

The court's instruction has not only undermined the power of the fledgling Electoral Commission but has revealed President Habibie's desire to intervene in the independence of the voting process.

Mohamad Hikam, of the Indonesian Institute of Sciences, said the court instruction would rattle the public's fragile faith that the elections would be fair and free.

"There will be tremendous pressure on the Government because it means Habibie is doing exactly what Suharto did," Mr Hikam said. "He is trying to use the court to prevent a real democracy." He said if ministers insisted on campaigning there could be violent demonstrations by students and workers.

University student Rini said: "We can no longer accept them up on the travelling stage singing and dancing and telling us how much they care about our welfare."

The Election Commission says it will stick to its guns. "It is only a legal opinion from the Supreme Court, not a binding decision. The ministers should still be banned," commission member Agus Miftach said.

But in his ruling, Supreme Court Chief Justice Sarwata said the President had the final word on whether his ministers joined campaigning. All indications are Mr Habibie is under too much pressure from party officials to back down.

Golkar sources say the party is prepared to withdraw support for him as presidential candidate if he buckles on this issue. Analysts predict a showdown between the President's office and the commission. Several commission members say they will resign if Mr Habibie pursues his ministerial push.