Jakarta (Antara Babel) -- Constitutional law expert Lauddin Marsuni of the University of Andi Djemma, South Sulawesi, said he would file a judicial review opposing the bill on the Regional Head Election Law, which was endorsed by Parliament on Friday.

"I am waiting for the bill to be enacted into law. Once it is registered at the state gazette and signed by the president, I will file a judicial review with the Constitutional Court," Marsuni stated in a telephone interview on Saturday.

He added that he was filing the lawsuit because the bill deprived him of his constitutional right as a citizen of the country to elect or be elected.

"My constitutional right has been looted by the House of Representatives (endorsing the bill)," he remarked.

In its plenary session early on Friday, the House of Representatives (DPR) endorsed the bill on the Regional Head Election Law. The bill stipulates that regional heads would be elected by the Regional Legislative Assembly (DPRD) and not by the people directly.

Moreover, Asep Nurjaman of the University of Malang Muhammadiyah concurred with Marsuni¿s view.

"The political rights that people have enjoyed in the last 10 years are being revoked again. The process of democracy (direct elections) that has run smoothly and gotten recognition by the world is once again being hampered," he noted.

Nurjaman further said that if the bill on the Regional Head Election Law was implemented, the legislative body would have a much stronger hold on the executive.

Also, executives would not be able to carry out their work well due to the influence of legislative factions in the DPRD. The legislature would have more power than the executives, as well.

This is because factions that represent political parties in the parliament will give priority to their respective constituents, which would lead to people's interests being neglected, Nurjaman explained.

He pointed out other impacts implementing the law could have. For one, strong domination of the legislature in the region could hamper the performance of executives in carrying out their policies.

In the future, it could also pose difficulties for good, ethical and fair leaders to offer priority to the public¿s interests.

"This will give birth to 'rulers' who are only interested in 'buying' policies to be implemented by a regional government head with approval from the parliament," he added.

Nurjaman also said that by holding elections, people are directly a part of the political process and learn about it, too. The system has run smoothly in the last decade, as well.

"Admittedly, a big, democratic nation needs time and a process. In Indonesia, people have had the right to democracy (direct elections) for only two terms (10 years) and it is already being revoked," Nurjaman stressed.

"The democratic process with direct elections has run well, but if the power to elect is returned to the parliament, it would mean a setback in our democratic policies,"  he reiterated.

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Editor : Aprionis


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