Jakarta – Observers on Sunday criticized the government's proposal to limit the number of independent candidates in regional elections, saying it would only further the interests of political parties.
Ray Rangkuti of the Civil Circle for Indonesia (LIMA) said the government's recommendation was unfair. Even without a government-set limit, he said, independent candidates were already at a disadvantage because of another regulation requiring them to submit a huge number of statements of support.
Instead of regulating the maximum number of independent candidates, Ray suggested the government focus on improving the verification system to avoid double voting in elections.
"If the legislation limits the number of independent candidates, the number of candidate from political parties should also be limited," he said.
He said the government's proposal would only accommodate the interests of political parties, which he accused of failing to articulate people's aspirations.
"Political parties are afraid of competing with independent candidates in regional elections. Independent candidates beat political party candidates in many regional elections in Aceh because of the public's negative sentiments toward political parties," said Ray.
Anton Pradjasto of the Center for Democracy and Human Rights Studies (Demos) said the government's plan would limit the opportunities of independent candidates to take part in regional polls. "The presence of non-partisan candidates could be seen as a warning for political parties to improve," he said.
During a hearing with lawmakers last week, Home Minister Mardiyanto suggested the number of independent candidates allowed to contest regional elections should not exceed the number of candidates from political parties.
Mardiyanto said putting a limit in place would prevent potential problems and help ensure orderly elections.
Hadar N. Gumay, executive director of the Center for Electoral Reform (Cetro), said the perceived need to regulate the number of independent candidates was not supported by any valid statistical data. "The government does not refer to statistics," said Hadar. Taking regional elections in Aceh as an example, Hadar said party candidates outnumbered independent candidates.
He said it was likely that in other provinces, there would be even fewer independent candidates than in Aceh, making any government regulation to limit independents unnecessary. Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam is the only province where independent candidates have contested elections, under the province's special autonomy law.
Commission II at the House of Representatives is currently revising the 2004 law on regional administrations to allow independent candidates to run in other provinces. (alf)