Page 356 - BUKU STRENGTHENING THE INDONESIAN PARLIAMENTARY DIPLOMACY FADLI ZON

On this opportunity, before we all get a first-hand experience of observing the Indonesia’s
general elections tomorrow, we will first have presentation and discussion on what and how
the general elections are organized by some of our professional colleagues from the organizing
institutions (the Indonesian General Elections Monitoring Agency and General Elections
Administrator’s Council), as well as an academician from University of Indonesia, Ms Chusnul
Mariyah, PhD.

This is a particularly important forum for us to learn about everything relating to the Indonesia’s
general elections, its history, and Indonesia’s political system. For your information, starting
this year, the general elections in Indonesia is held simultaneously to vote for the Members of
the House, the Regional Representatives Council, Provincial Council, City/District Councils
and the President and Vice President. This will, of course, particularly be interesting not only
substantively with a very complicated election system but also technically with considerable
time needed as well as high endurance of all the organizing institutions as the general elections
constitute the fate of this country in the future that democracy can run well in Indonesia.

In the elections, 16 national political parties are competing in the election to vote for legislative
Members including 4 special local parties in Aceh Province. As for the election to vote for the
President and Vice President, two pairs of candidates, that will compete in the presidential
election, are proposed by combined political parties participated in the general elections.
In addition, as regards the election to vote for the members of the Regional Representatives
Council, the number of individuals running for the seat is different. In the end, there will be 4
persons that will represent each province.

Selected Speeches of the Vice Speaker of the House of Representatives of the Republic of Indonesia I 343