Govt Allocates Rp17 Trillion for General Elections

Jakarta (Antara) - The government has allocated Rp17 trillion in the 2014 Draft State Budget for general elections next year, according to a chief minister. "The government's spending is huge - Rp17 trillion - not to mention the huge budget, which will be prepared by 12 political parties," explained Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Hatta Rajasa on Friday. He believes the government's huge spending will affect Indonesia's economic growth next year. "The impact is huge. So, it will boost the economy," he said. He is also optimistic that the economic growth in 2014 would be above six percent. President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono delivered his state-of-the-nation address at the parliament building on Friday and mentioned that Indonesia would hold direct legislative and president elections next year. "Next year, we will hold legislative and presidential elections and 12 national political parties and three local political parties in Aceh will take part in them. From a financial aspect, the cost of the general elections is huge," said the head of state. The president hopes that the 2014 general election would run smoothly, orderly, and peacefully and meet universal standards. The budget of 17 trillion for the elections does not include the expenses of political parties, he noted. "It is indeed a great democratic event, not only for this country but for other democratic countries too," he said. (*)