REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA - The government regulation in lieu of law (Perppu) on regional elections is a bet for President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and his Democratic Party, one they will have to fight hard for, a political observer said.

"The public will surely criticize him (Yudhoyono) and his party more harshly if it is later found that they were only playing games," political observer Ridho Imawan of the Soegeng Sarjadi Syndicate said here on Saturday.

President Yudhoyono, who is also the General Chairman of the ruling Democratic Party, has issued regulations (Perppu Pilkada) to revoke the implementation of the Pilkada Bill. This bill on the election of regional heads, which was passed into law by the House of Representatives (DPR) last week, provides for the indirect elections of provincial governors, district heads and city mayors through regional legislative assemblies (DPRD).

The bill was passed unopposed after the Democratic Party walked out of the vote. Many believe that it was this decision that killed democracy in the country, for which President Yudhoyono and his party received strong criticism.

"President Yudhoyono and the Democratic Party must fight to their full capacity for the passage of the perppu in the House of Representatives because "it will be a bet for the Democratic Party and Yudhoyono," Imawan explained.

He added that the success of their efforts would also be determined by the lobbying capabilities of the Democratic Party and President-elect Jokowi's camp, led by the Indonesia Democratic Party Struggle (PDIP).

"The two parties must sit down and discuss ways to save the system of direct elections," Imawan stated.

The political observer reinstated how it would not be an easy fight as the Red-White coalition of parties that supported the system of indirect elections by the DPRD had more seats in the parliament.

The Red-White coalition comprises the Golkar Party, Gerindra, PPP, PKS and PAN, all of which supported Prabowo Subianto in the presidential election on July 9.

"The Jokowi-JK (Joko Widodo-Jusuf Kalla) coalition in the DPR must give it their all to fight for the direct (election) system and must also be able to involve other parties to ensure that the perppu is accepted by the DPR," Imawan noted.

He further stated that all proponents of direct elections must be able to cooperate with other parties to be able to raise more votes than the Red-White coalition parties such as PPP, which had never completely rejected President-elect Jokowi.

"Without ample efforts, they will face difficulties in ensuring that the Perppu is passed," he remarked.

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