Stemming the Jokowi Camp

ARIEF Wibowo was not usually so lethargic when asked about the marathon meeting for the Regional Head Bill, held at the Bogor Regional Legislative Council (DPRD) building in Cikopo. In fact, the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) politician was known to pepper his explanation about the articles, which were still being formulated, with details. "The condition is not healthy. There is an imposition of will," Arief told Tempo on Wednesday last week.

The meeting lasted three days, said Arief, who is deputy chairman of the Administration Commission of the House of Representatives (DPR). He added that the results of the meeting about the bill were pinning down his party. Of all the nine factions in the DPR, four still want direct local elections to be held. These are the PDI-P, the People's Conscience Party (Hanura), the National Awakening Party (PKB) and the Justice and Prosperity Party (PKS). The former three parties supported president-elect Joko Widodo and his running mate, Jusuf Kalla, in the July 9 presidential election.