TEMPO.CO, Jakarta – President-elect Joko “Jokowi” Widodo said Jakartans should not be concerned about the regional election bill that has just been passed by the House of Representatives.
“The constitution governs that regional heads will be elected directly,” he said at the Jakarta Legislative Council (DPRD Jakarta) on Friday, September 26, 2014, referring to the Law Number 29/2007 regarding the administration of the special capital region of Jakarta.
Article 10 of the law states that the Jakarta administration is helmed by a governor and a deputy governor, who are elected directly in the regional head election. According to Jokowi, Jakarta is not affected by the regional election bill.
The plenary session at the House of Representatives passed the regional election bill on early Friday morning and returned the regional elections to the Legislative Councils. Based on the voting tally, the coalition supporting the regional elections by legislative councils won the poll with 256 votes.
Three parties supporting direct elections gained 135 votes, while the Democrat faction walked out of the session, leaving only six representatives.
RAYMUNDUS RIKANG
