Polygamous Indonesia politicians may lose female votes

[Coventina]

Source: Reuters

JAKARTA (Reuters) - Polygamy is turning into an election issue among some women voters in officially secular, predominantly Muslim Indonesia, after a feminist group listed several Islamist politicians alleged to have more than one wife.

The list could potentially hurt the election chances of politicians from the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS), an Islamist party positioning itself as a potential ally or coalition partner for President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono ahead of the April 9 parliamentary elections and July 8 presidential poll.

Indonesia allows polygamy but a man can only get court approval to take a second wife if his first wife agrees, or if she is disabled or cannot have children.

The practice is frowned on by many educated, middle class women.



Read more: http://in.reuters.com/article/lifestyleMolt/idINTRE53030G20090401