Jakarta – The government recommended Wednesday the House of Representatives limit the number of independent candidates running for regional elections to maintain a balance between independent candidates and those endorsed by political parties.

Home Minister Mardiyanto said the maximum number of independent candidates running in regional elections should be regulated. "The government thinks that not all independent candidates who pass administrative selection will participate in regional elections," he said.

Mardiyanto was speaking during a hearing with the House's Commission II overseeing home affairs, regional autonomy and state apparatus to revise Law No. 32/2004 on Regional Administration.

The revision of the law would allow all provinces to field independent candidates in their elections. Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam is the only province with independent candidates contesting the elections under the province's special autonomy law.

Mardiyanto said the limit was not to curb public participation in politics but to prevent potential problems and put regional elections in order. "If, let's say, there are 15 candidates passing the administrative selection, it wouldn't be feasible for all of them to participate in the election," he said.

He said the government proposed the Commission II add one more article regulating this matter. Mardiyanto suggested the number of independent candidates who could be voted for on election day must correspond with the number of candidates from political parties.

If there were only two candidates from political parties, he said, only one independent candidate would be allowed to participate in regional elections. If political parties endorse three to four candidates, only two independent candidates could go forward into the election. "The government proposed this article with the purpose of maintaining harmony," he said.

The proposal received varying reactions from the factions in Commission II.

Rustam Tamburaka of the Golkar party faction said the government's suggestion was appropriate to prevent excesses. "This will be a sort of guidance to prevent outbursts from independent candidates in regional elections," he said.

But Andi Yuliani Paris of the National Awakening Party faction questioned the legal basis for the government proposal. "Without any legal argument, the article would be at risk for a judicial review requested by independent candidates who perceived this (idea) as a limitation of their political rights," she said.

She said she was concerned some mechanisms could hamper the regional elections. "If one selected independent candidate suddenly withdrew, the regional election could be postponed."

Fachruddin of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) said the government's suggestion might also complicate the position of political parties.

"By mentioning that proportion, we have already assumed that independent candidates would be certain to emerge in any region, but what if they don't?" Fachruddin said. He said the government should just accept all registered independent candidates.

Commission II chairman EE Mangindaan said the issue would be discussed more in the working committee. He said the House expected to finish the revision of the law in the current sitting period. (alf)