"I predict if that happens a fierce debate will occur, especially on the issue of whether the election system is open or closed," Pramono Anung said.
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - House Deputy Speaker Pramono Anung said a heated debate would occur if three crucial issues in the general elections bill are to be decided through a vote.

"I predict if that happens a fierce debate will occur, especially on the issue of whether the election system is open or closed," he said when contacted by phone here on Tuesday.

He added that PDIP, PKS and PKB had remained certain that they would abide by their decision to choose the closed system.

Pramono, who is former secretary general of PDIP, the opposition Indonesia Democratic Party Struggle, said other crucial issues include the system of counting votes for determining parliamentary seats.

"These two issues will determine the future of political parties," he said.

He noted that political party faction leaders in parliament are still lobbying to unite their stance on the crucial issues in the general elections bill.

In the consultation meeting between the leadership of the House of Representatives (DPR) and the leadership of the General Elections Bill committee, political party faction leaders on Monday said only one of the four crucial issues had been agreed upon, namely regarding allocation of seats in electoral regions, with three to 10 seats to go to each electoral region.

No agreement has been made on three other crucial issues, although several factions have become more persuasive with regard to their proposals.

On the election system, two options still remain, including whether there will be an open or closed proportional system.

Regarding the parliamentary threshold, legislators still differ on whether it must be set at three or four percent, he said.

At the meeting on Monday, the National Mandate Party (PAN) had suggested a compromise of 3.5 percent, but Golkar and the Democrat Party still insist the threshold be set at four percent.

Smaller party factions, such as the United Development Party (PPP), the Nation Awakening Party (PKB), the Great Indonesia Movement Party (Gerindra) and the People`s Conscience Party (Hanura), continue to favor three percent.

Another crucial issue regards the system of vote counting for the allocation of parliamentary seats. There are still two options, a quota system and a devisor of the webster system.

A plenary session is expected to be held on Wednesday to vote on the bill.(*)

Editor: Heru Purwanto
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