SBY Expresses Dissapointment over Voting Results

Washington DC (Antara) - Democrat Party Chairman Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono expressed disappointment over the results of voting to endorse a bill on regional head elections, which took place on Thursday (September 25) night in Jakarta. "I am disappointed with the results of the political process in the House of Representatives (DPR), even though I respect it as a democratic process, but once again, I was disappointed with the process and results," Yudhoyono stated in a press conference on Thursday. He revealed that his disappointment was due to the fact that the Democrat Party's proposal incorporating a ten-point list of improvements to maintain the direct election system was rejected by other factions in the DPR. "Because the proposed option of the Democrat party for maintaining direct elections with 10 main improvements or requirements was rejected. There were a lot of irregularities observed over the last 10 years during which the direct elections were held, but we choose the direct elections with some improvements. I follow on and ask that the 10 main improvements can be taken seriously, but it has been rejected," he emphasized. He expected that a decision over a bill on regional head elections should not be decided through voting but instead by a lobby, if someone supported the proposed option of the Democrat Party. "With these results, I have to say to the Indonesian people that the Democrat party will propose a law suit. We will consider whether to appeal in the Supreme Court or the Constitutional Court," he affirmed. Earlier, the DPR, after a long debate in a plenary session early on Friday, decided through voting to endorse a bill on indirect regional head elections. "The results of voting showed that 135 DPR members voted for direct regional head elections and 361 voted against it," Deputy Chairman of the DPR Priyo Budi Santoso, who chaired the plenary session, stated in the wee hours here on Friday. The plenary session was held to take a decision over a bill on regional head elections, which stipulates that regional head elections should be held by the Regional Legislative Assembly (DPRD), or indirect election. During the voting, several house faction members defected from their political party's stance. In the voting, 11 Golkar Party faction members voted for direct regional head elections and 73 others voted against. A total of 88 legislators of the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDIP) faction voted for direct elections. The Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) faction saw 55 members voting for indirect elections (elections by the DPRD), while 44 members of the National Mandate Party (PAN) faction voted for indirect elections. There were 33 members of the United Development Party (PPP) faction who were in favor of elections through the DPRD, and 20 legislators from the National Awakening Party (PKB) faction agreed to hold direct elections. The Greater Indonesia Movement Party's (Gerindra's) 22 faction members voted for indirect regional head elections. Ten legislators from the People's Conscience Party (Hanura) faction voted for direct elections. In the meantime, there were six members of the Democratic Party (PD) who voted for direct regional head elections. (*)