TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Special Committee for the draft bill on general elections held its first meeting on Monday, November 21, 2016. Ten factions at the House of Representatives have proposed seven candidates to lead the committee.

Leading the meeting held at the Senayan Parliamentary Complex was House Deputy Speaker Fadli Zon.

Most of the factions proposed their own members to lead the special committee. The Indonesia Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP) promoted Trimedya Panjaitan, member of House's Commission III overseeing legal affairs, as a candidate. The Functional Group (Golkar) Party proposed Rambe Kamarul Zaman, chairman of Commission II overseeing home affairs, as a candidate. Commission II deputy chairman Ahmad Riza Patria was endorsed by the Great Indonesia Movement (Gerindra) Faction.

The Democratic Party proposed Commission III deputy chairman Benny Kabur Harman, and the National Mandate Party (PAN) promoted the party's faction secretary Yandri Susanto. The National Awakening Party (PKB) endorsed Commission II deputy chairman Lukman Edi, and the People’s Conscience Party (Hanura) sent Commission II member Rufinus Hotmaulana Hutauruk as a candidate.

Meanwhile, the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) and the United Development Party (PPP) did not propose any candidates. The National Democratic (NasDem) party opted to endorse Rambe.

The meeting was suspended to provide the factions to conduct a lobby to appoint the chairman.

AHMAD FAIZ