For the sake of the nation

Man: For the sake of the nation right Mr?

Having earlier supported a call to bar politicians from becoming justices on the Constitutional Court (MK), which among other things is responsible for adjudicating electoral disputes, lawmakers are now competing to grab a seat on the court after it controversially repealed a government regulation in lieu of law barring politicians from becoming MK justices.

Kompas - February 26, 2014

Golput

Activists have slammed a General Elections Commission plan to criminalise campaigning for golput (abstaining or invalidating a vote) ahead of this year's legislative and presidential elections. With the same tired-old establishment faces dominating the list of candidates, the Election Supervisory Committee has warned that the number of youth voters that would golput could reach 50% or more.

Kompas - February 25, 2014

A political Pandora's box

Man: Bored yet Mr! Forget about it until there's a change of administration then dig it up again like usual!

Kid: A political Pandora's box

With the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) preparing to take the 2008 Bank Century bailout case to trial next month, this will be the last chance for lawmakers to try and use the corruption scandal to score political points against President Yudhoyono (clown in box) and Vice President Boediono (centre) before their terms in office end in July.

Kompas - February 22, 2014

Say no to illegal rice imports!

Say no to corruption!
Say no to the drug mafia!
Say no to illegal rice imports!
Say no to... such-and-such... eh... accountability!

A blame game has erupted between the Agriculture Ministry, the Trade Ministry and the Finance Ministry over who is responsible for authorising the illegal importation of 800 tons of rice from Vietnam.

Kompas - February 15, 2014

Ballot Boxes

Despite repeated assurances by the General Elections Commission (KPU) that preparations for the 2014 legislative elections are on track, public confidence in the KPU was dealt another blow this week when it was reported that in several regions hundreds of ballot boxes used in the 2009 elections (Pemilu 2009) have been left out in the open due to a lack of storage space and are too badly damaged to be reused.

Kompas - February 12, 2014

Level 3 Alert!

Smoke reads: Natural disasters, volcanic eruptions, flash floods, politics, corruption, Constitutional Court bribes, Upstream Oil and Gas Regulator bribery, political parties, election witness fees...

Sign reads: 2014 Festival of Democracy (2014 legislative and presidential elections)

Man: It's a level 3 alert!

Kid: Ready to evacuate Dad!

Kompas - February 8, 2014

Social Aid Funds

Water reads: Natural Disasters. Sack reads: Budget.

The Election Supervisory Committee is to summon officials from 10 ministries over allegations of the misuse of social aid funds to assist victims of natural disasters that it believes have been siphoned off for election campaigning.

Kompas - February 5, 2014

Dukun Campaign Manager

Price list reads: Regional House of Representatives (DPRD) 100 million rupiah, House of Representatives (DPR) 200 million, Regent 300 million, Governor 500 million, President 1 billion

Lacking faith in voters, aspiring legislative candidates (caleg) are turning to the supernatural powers of dukun (shaman or faith healer) to augment their aura and give them greater charisma and charm (or to ward of evil spells cast by their rivals) in the hope of attracting voters in the April 9 parliamentary elections.

Kompas - February 1, 2014