[Editorial] Election Reforms; Starting Point of Political Reforms

With only 100 days before the presidential election, there are more concerns over the possible failure of the election rather than expectations over a new head of state. We are seeing signs of such concerns being reality in the political arena. In the run up to the presidential election, rival parties have been only engaged in name-calling and finger-pointing without producing policies for the public.

If this trend holds until the election day, its residual effect will be serious. For both winner and loser will be hurt during the process. If the winner is not fully respected and the loser does not honor the result, the election will cause destabilization of the politics. We witnessed it in the past presidential elections in 1987, 1992 and 1997. The failure to conduct a fair election led to a failure of politics for the next five years.

The fierce political wrangling witnessed now stemmed from the 1997 presidential election. Still the political sector is reeling from the aftermath of the failed 1997 election.

A huge amount of money should always accompanie elections if political parties mobilize every possible means to win a victory. That in turn leads to corruption of politicians and the collusion between businesses and political parties. That is why sages repeat that political stability and reforms are doomed to failure without fair and transparent elections.

Although it is uncertain whether the political sector will accept it, the suggestion of the National Election Committee that the nation provide all funds for elections can be a key to the election reforms. If the system is introduced, the cost to conduct elections will be significantly reduced. But only introducing the system cannot get it right. The political circle, related agencies and the public should join forces together to promote election reforms to the fullest.

First, the political sector should reform itself. They should realize that `fair defeat` is better than `dirty victory`. Related authorities should be committed to fight against illegal and corrupt election practices.

But most importantly, voters themselves should monitor and judge the political sector and election process. Election reform is the beginning and the end of political stability and reforms.