Democrats Walk Out of House Meeting, Jokowi: Note That
26 September 2014 14:28 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - President-elect Joko Widodo has commented on the voting results of the House plenary session that ratified the regional election bill in the early hours of Friday. As the bill has been ratified, the people have now been deprived of casting their votes directly to elect regional leaders.
"The people must note the parties that have taken away their political right," Jokowi said.
Jokowi added that the people must continue keeping an eye on the results and accept the results of the House meeting.
"Mark that, note the parties that have taken away the people's political right," Jokowi said.
The House plenary meeting on early Friday morning finally approved of the regional election bill that scraps the direct regional election mechanism.
The Democrat faction decided to walk out of the meeting, leaving only six of its lawmakers. With the Democrats out, the Red and White coalition won the voting with 256 votes.
If the Democrats had not left the meeting, the results of the election would likely have been the opposite and the direct regional election mechanism would have continued.
RAYMUNDUS RIKANG