Irawaty Wardany, Jakarta – New political parties are stepping up pressure for a revision of the newly passed presidential election bill, with potential candidate Wiranto vowing to lead the way.
Wiranto said Sunday his People's Conscience Party (Hanura) would be at the forefront of a motion for a judicial review of the new law, which he said deprived citizens of their right to run for president.
"Limiting president and vice president candidates by setting such a high threshold is actually hurting the democracy that the nation is trying to develop," Hanura leader Wiranto said after swearing in party volunteers.
The House of Representatives last week endorsed the presidential election bill, which requires a party or a coalition of parties to win at least 20 percent of seats in the House or 25 percent of the popular vote to be eligible to nominate a candidate.
Major parties such as the Golkar Party and the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) had pushed for a higher threshold, arguing it would create stable government. Smaller parties wanted an electoral threshold of 15 percent.
The threshold was set at 3 percent of seats in the House and 5 percent of the popular vote in the 2004 presidential election, in which five teams ran, including Golkar candidate Wiranto and his running mate Solahuddin Wahid.
Although nominated by small parties, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and his running mate Jusuf Kalla beat the odds to win the election over Megawati Soekarnoputri and her running mate Hasyim Muzadi in the runoff.
A number of surveys have found that Hanura, which counts several former military generals among its members, was the most popular party among the new contenders. Some have suggested Hanura could be a dark horse posing a serious threat to the established parties, thanks to its popular members and financial resources.
Despite his party's prospects, Wiranto, a former chief of the Indonesian Military (TNI), said he was unhappy with the new threshold.
"Our 1945 Constitution clearly stipulates that presidential and vice presidential candidates are nominated by political parties or a coalition of parties. That's all," he said.
"That means the Constitution opens up wide opportunities for the public to choose their leaders."
He said given intense global competition, Indonesia needed a leader who could help the country overcome any rivals.
"This can materialize only if there are not too many regulations limiting candidates' opportunities to run for president," Wiranto said.
Hanura will announce its presidential and vice presidential candidates after the legislative election, which will take place on Apr. 9 next year.
The Islamic-based Crescent Star Party (PBB) and self-proclaimed presidential candidate Sutiyoso have also indicated a plan to file for judicial review in the Constitutional Court.
Independent candidate Fajroel Rachman has also demanded a review of the bill because, he said, it denied nonpartisan aspirants such as himself the chance to run.
The government has said it welcomes attempts to challenge the law in court.