Dynasty Politics to be Abolished
Tuesday, 15 November, 2011 | 12:34 WIB

TEMPO Interactive, Jakarta:The government has made a commitment to abolishing dynasty politics in the provincial governments by altering several regulations in the Provincial Head Election Law.


Home Affairs Minister Gamawan Fauzi said the revision draft banned the families of provincial heads from running in the provincial head election. “There must be a five-year break,” he said in Jakarta yesterday.


Gamawan said the restriction aimed to open equal opportunity to all citizens. Additionally, the new government cannot protect old provincial head should the person be involved in a legal case.


The draft has been submitted to President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and will soon be handed to the House of Representatives to be discussed and ratified next year.


Dynasty politics have occurred in several provinces due to the absence of strict regulations. A while ago, the public protested provincial staffers, for instance in Banten, who were still related to governor Ratu Atut Chosiyah. In Kediri, the regent post was filled by the wife of the previous regent.


Gamawan said the law would regulate in detail which family members would be banned from running in the election. So far, husbands, wives and children are banned from running in the election. The draft will also set that a provincial head that has served for two terms can no longer run for deputy provincial head.



IRA GUSLINA