Page 126 - BUKU A CENTURY OF PARLIAMENTARY LIFE IN INDONESIA

EFFORT TO REUNITE THE REPUBLIC OF INDONESIA
(1950 – 1960)

1955 PARLIAMENTARY ELECTION:

THE FIRST CELEBRATION OF DEMOCRACY

IN INDONESIA

Although delayed for almost a decade — the general election was supposed to
be held in January 1946 — the 1955 general election was a historical record of

the Indonesian people’s success in organizing a democratic political system as
a newly independent country.

THE success of organizing a democratic party for the first time in Indone-
sia’s history gave birth to optimism among the leaders and all the people
of Indonesia. The first general election held in September 1955 dismissed
the views and predictions of the Western press, which were pessimis-
tic about the Indonesian government’s ability to organize a democratic
party.

Held on September 29, 1955, the elections were set for 260 seats, with
each seat representing 300,000 votes. The elections were held by the
Indonesian Election Committee (PPI), which had branches in 16 regions.
In the 1955 General Election, there were 96,000 polling stations (TPS)
throughout Indonesia.

The election results recorded the election of 272 members of parliament.
The number consisted of 257 people elected in the election. Three were
chosen to represent the West Irian region, six were selected to represent
the European minority, and six were appointed as representatives of the
Chinese minority. In addition, the President appointed an additional 15
members outside the election.

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