KMP's Acceptance of Perppu Will not Affect Alliance: Observer

Yogyakarta (Antara) - If political parties in the Red-White Coalition (KMP) support the government's regulation in lieu of law on direct regional elections, it will not affect their alliance to consolidate at the regional level, an observer stated. "They could still consolidate, even if they have a face-off during a direct regional head election," political observer Ari Dwipayana of the University of Gajah Mada remarked here on Monday. Political party factions grouped under the KMP control the parliamentary seats in the House of Representatives (DPR) and outnumber the parliamentary seats of its rival, the Great Indonesia Coalition (KIH), which supports the government. Thus, in a battle on the draft law on indirect regional head elections, the KMP won, and the DPR passed the draft into a law (UU Pilkada). The law obviously will benefit the KMP as the governors, district heads, and mayors will be elected by the Regional Legislative Assemblies (DPRD) where KMP holds majority of the seats. However, as the public at large were not in favor of the law, former president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono issued a government regulation in lieu of law (Perppu) on direct regional head elections, annulling the UU Pilkada. The Perppu, however, still has to be approved by the DPR before it can be implemented. (*)