The seven regions were Tasikmalaya in West Java; Surabaya, Blitar, and Pacitan in East Java; Mataram in West Nusa Tenggara (NTB); Samarinda in East Kalimantan; and North Timor Tengah in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT),
Bogor (ANTARA News) - Chairman of the House of Representatives (DPR) Setya Novanto has suggested postponing the simultaneous regional head elections (Pilkada) in seven regions having less than two tickets standing for the race.

The suggestion was based on the existing regulations, he noted at the presidential palace here on Wednesday.

In accordance with the existing laws, a region must have at least two tickets to be entitled to hold a regional head election simultaneously along with 261 other regions throughout Indonesia.

For the postponement of elections in the seven regions, the government needs to issue a government regulation in lieu of law with an approval of the DPR.

The government, the DPR, and the General Elections Commission (KPU) need to discuss the matters thoroughly, he remarked.

The KPU has announced that seven regions have less than two tickets to contest for Pilkada scheduled on December 9, 2015.

The seven regions were Tasikmalaya in West Java; Surabaya, Blitar, and Pacitan in East Java; Mataram in West Nusa Tenggara (NTB); Samarinda in East Kalimantan; and North Timor Tengah in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), KPU Chairman Husni Kamil Manik noted recently.

Regional head elections in the aforementioned seven regions have to be postponed as they failed to increase the number of candidates even after holding the second round of the registration period on August 1-3, 2015.

The first round of the registration period for the regional head candidates took place in 269 regions across Indonesia on July 26-28, 2015, and has run smoothly and peacefully, in general.

The Indonesian government will hold Pilkada to elect governors in nine provinces, district heads in 224 districts, and mayors in 36 cities.

Indonesia has 34 provinces, 420 districts, and 94 cities. A province is headed by a governor, a district by a district head, and a city by a mayor, according to data published in early 2014.

The number of regional head candidates that have registered with the KPU until July 30, 2015, increased to 827 tickets, include 145 incumbents, Manik stated recently.(*)

Editor: Heru Purwanto
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