PAN May Accept Perppu Pilkada

Jakarta (Antara) -- The National Mandate Party (PAN) may accept the government regulation in lieu of law on regional elections number 1 of 2014, General Chairman of the party, Hatta Rajasa, said. These regulations (Perppu Pilkada) were issued to restore the direct system of elections. "If it (Perppu Pilkada) is good, we will consider accepting it," Rajasa stated at his residence here on Wednesday. PAN is a member of the Red-White coalition that supported the passage of the bill on regional elections, which regulates the implementation of the indirect election of provincial governors, district heads and city mayors by regional legislative assemblies. Following the passage of the bill and strong criticism from various quarters, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono issued the "Perppu Pilkada" to revoke the new law. If the perppu is approved by the House of Representatives (DPR), the new law on indirect regional elections will become invalid. Rajasa pointed out that there was no reason to reject the perppu if it was meant for the good of the people and would meet their needs, even though studies have shown that the direct system of elections has had several ramifications, such as money politics. "I do not want people to think that their right has been stifled or taken away, and will not allow them to be negatively affected," he remarked. (*) Reporting by Imam Budilaksono