DPR Paases PERPPU on Regional Elections into Law

Jakarta (Antara) - The House of Representatives (DPR) in a plenary session here on Tuesday passed by acclamation the government regulation in lieu of law (Perppu) Number 1 of 2014, which reinstates direct regional elections. At the same time, it also passed Perppu Number 2 of 2014 related to regional administration. Home Affairs Minister Tjahjo Kumolo, on behalf of the government, thanked the DPR leadership and the members of the House\'s Commission II and the Regional Representatives Council for carrying out discussions over the past two days and facilitating the passage of the Perppus. He said more improvements will be required in the Perppus after their passage into law so as to harmonize overlapping articles. However, he assured, it will not disrupt the implementation of regional elections. He noted that in 2015, 204 autonomous regions will conduct elections simultaneously. Perppu Number 1 and 2 of 2014 on regional elections and regional governments, respectively, were introduced by former president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono just before the end of his term. Former president SBY issued Perppu Number 1 of 2014 to annul Law Number 22 of 2014 on the elections of provincial governors, district heads, and city mayors by regional legislative assemblies. Following the issuance of Perppu Number 1 of 2014, SBY introduced Perppu Number 2 of 2014 to annual the task and authority of regional legislative assemblies to elect regional heads. According to DPR Deputy Speaker Agus Hermanto, the Perppus need to be revised and perfected immediately to ensure their proper implementation. \"The law must be revised immediately as it still has many shortcomings. This had also been agreed by the House\'s Commission II and the government during discussions,\" he remarked after leading the plenary session. (*) Reporting by Imam Budilaksono, Riza Harahap