July 28, 2015 edition

WHEN the sun rose on Idul Fitri, Golkar Party's Team of Ten had only completed half of its task. Over the previous three days, the team had labored to agree on candidates to run for 269 posts in the elections of regional heads (pilkada) set for December this year. "The two sides have agreed on 131 of the candidates," Lamhot Sinaga, a Team of Ten member and Golkar Deputy Secretary-General in the Agung Laksono camp, told Tempo two weeks ago.
Debate continues to fly over the remaining candidates, and neither side looks likely to budge from their favored politicians. Meanwhile, the July 26-28 deadline for registering candidates at the Regional General Election Commissions is right around the corner.

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More National articles in other editions

July 14, 2015 edition

AFTER placing a black package in front of the gate, a mysterious man observed Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) investigator Afief Yulian Miftach's home at the Mediterania Residence complex, Bekasi, West Java. The middle-aged man stood outside for some time and briefly stretched his neck to peek over the 170-centimeter-high gate.
The face of the man dressed in a gray short-sleeved shirt was recorded by CCTV camerasthe cameras were installed by Afief at three points at the front of the house. The recorded material was obtained by Tempo. The man's face was thin and seemed clean. He had a thin beard, straight hair, and the back of his head was slightly balding.

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July 10, 2015 edition

Kulon Progo Regent Hasto Wardoyo's presentation invited cheering applause from his audience, which filled the auditorium of Kinasih Resort and Conference Cimanggis, Depok, West Jawa, on Tuesday evening two weeks ago. The regent, who was supported by the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), shared his experience in heading the regency located in Yogyakarta. Hasto spoke to 137 candidates to be fielded by the PDI-P for the posts of regent, mayor, and governor in the simultaneous regional elections throughout Indonesia in December. The talk was held at the PDI-P's school of politics for regional-head aspirants.

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July 7, 2015 edition

THE threat to the General Elections Commission (KPU) came from two parties in parliament at almost the same time on Thursday last week. The two were the Commission of Domestic Governance, which met with the KPU, and the Commission of Legal Affairs, which met with National Police Chief Gen. Badrodin Haiti. Both commissions utilized the same weapon: the Supreme Audit Board's (BPK) audit results on the KPU's organization of the 2014 presidential election.

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June 30, 2015 edition

BASYIR Ahmad, the Mayor of Pekalongan in Central Java, had two important meetings last week. On Tuesday, he met with Central Java Governor Ganjar Pranowo. The next morning he flew to Jakarta to meet Minister of Home Affairs Tjahjo Kumolo. To both men he announced his resignation, effective August 9.
He had difficulty denying rumors that the move was to allow his wife, Balqis Diab, now Chairperson of the Golkar Party of Pekalongan, to run for mayor. He even praised his wife for her capability, popularity and financial support three important mayoral requirements. "My wife is an outstanding politician and ready to contest," Basyir said on Tuesday last week.

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June 23, 2015 edition

The House of Representative's (DPR) Legislation Board meeting room was empty last Wednesday at 2pm. According to the schedule, the Working Committee of the Proposed Regional Development Program Selection Team should already have been discussing technical aspects of the program since 1pm.

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June 16, 2015 edition

Chaos erupted on the third floor of a karaoke center in Simpang Lima, Banda Aceh, on Saturday two weeks ago, after 30 Banda Aceh Sharia (Islamic law) Police officers burst into the private rooms. They were looking for single women.
Other sharia officers guarded the exits, making sure no one could escape.

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