Markus Junianto Sihaloho, Jakarta – A speedy resolution to the deadlock over an amendment to the 2007 Election Organizers Law is to let the government, rather than the House of Representatives, complete the draft, a former legislator says.

The impasse stems from a proposed clause that would allow members of political parties to serve on the various government bodies that organize and monitor elections.

The ruling Democratic Party, the largest bloc in the House, and the National Mandate Party (PAN) oppose the clause, while the seven other parties in the House want it included in the amendment.

On Friday, Ferry Mursyidan Baldan, who from 2005 to 2008 chaired the House special committee that drafted the law, said the government would be able to complete a draft of the amendment quicker than the House because it was not held back by party interests.

"That's why we delegated to the government the final task of completing the draft of the law back in 2007," he told a discussion in Jakarta. "So rather than take flak for its slow pace of deliberation, it would be better for the House to ask the government to take over," he added.

However, Ida Fauziah, a member of the House Legislative Body, does not agree. She said the whole point of letting legislators finish the draft themselves was to help them improve their legislation capabilities. She also said the current deadlock between the parties was a normal part of the political dynamic, and should not be a reason for legislators to give up and let the government finish the job.

"Just be patient," Ida said. "We've targeted the completion of the draft amendment and its passage into law for 2011, along with all other bills related to political issues."

M.S. Kaban, chairman of the Crescent Star Party (PBB), which is not represented in the House, told the discussion that the current situation was proof that legislators were unable to carry out what should be a routine task. "There's a big question mark hanging over the ability of legislators to draft bills," he said.

There are around 20 smaller parties outside the House, he added, that are waiting for the amendment to be passed so they can begin planning their strategy for the 2014 general elections.

Kaban blamed the deadlock on the Democratic Party's opposition to the proposed clause. "The big question is why the Democrats do not want political parties getting seats on these elections bodies," he said.

But Hadar Gumay, an elections observer from the Center for Electoral Reform (Cetro), said he supported the Democrats' stance, saying parties should not be allowed on the bodies. He warned of a repeat of the 1999 elections, when all of the parties running were represented on the polling bodies, and some representatives refused to sign off on the election results, leaving the outcome in limbo. Eventually, President B.J. Habibie was forced to step in to confirm the results.