President Wants General Elections on Time

BIRO PERS SEKRETARIAT PRESIDEN

President Joko Widodo met with the chairman and members of the General Election Commission at the Merdeka Palace, Jakarta, Monday (30/5/2022).

JAKARTA, KOMPAS — President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo has reiterated that he wants the 2024 general elections to be held on time. In the midst of delay in the promulgation of the regulation of the General Election Commission (KPU) regarding the stages, programs and schedule of the 2024 general elections, the KPU guarantees that the stages will start according to the rules, namely 14 June 2022.

Jokowi’s support for the implementation of the 2024 general elections was conveyed during a meeting with KPU leaders at the Merdeka Palace, Central Jakarta, on Monday (30/5/2022). After the meeting, the chairman of the KPU, Hasyim Asy'ari, said that the President welcomed the KPU's report on the implementation of the 2024 general elections. The President, he added, gave his full support for the implementation of the 2024 general elections which will take place on 14 February 2024.

Also read:

> Do not Ignore the Public

"The President wants to ensure that the 2024 general elections are carried out according to the schedule and on time at its five-year regular schedule," he said.

The KPU agreed with this and it was planned that the campaign would be held in 90 days.

Hasyim said the President also gave a number of messages to the KPU. For one thing, the President will order ministers related to the holding of the elections to give full support to the KPU, including the home affairs minister, law and human rights minister, finance minister, foreign affairs minister and health minister. Regarding the campaign, the President hopes it can be more efficient, shorter. The KPU agreed with this and it was planned that the campaign would be held in 90 days.

“The meeting point for the campaign is 90 days in duration. This will also have implications for the logistics procurement and distribution process, especially ballot papers and forms,” Hasyim said.

Previously, a number of leaders of the House of Representatives (DPR) Commission II, which oversees domestic governance, state agencies, agrarian reform, village development and disadvantaged regions, claimed that there was an agreement that the campaign period would last 75 days.

Delayed again

The plan for the KPU's hearing with the DPR and the government to discuss the draft the regulation of the General Election Commission (PKPU) on the stages, programs and schedule of the 2024 general elections on Monday (30/5) was again postponed for a week. This meeting was previously planned for 23 May.

Deputy Chairman of the DPR Commission II Syamsurizal gave the reason that that Commission II must discuss the 2023 budget planning for government agencies that are partners of Commission II.

Considering the time remaining before the quickly approaching 2024 election stages, Syamsurizal believes that delaying the discussion will not be an obstacle. "We have calculated the time; God willing, it will be sufficient," he said.

In accordance with the mandate of Law Number 7 of 2017 on general elections, the election stage begins no later than 20 months before voting day. With the polling day for the 2024 general elections set for 14 February, the stage begins on 14 June 2022.

KOMPAS/HERU SRI KUMORO

Chairman of the General Elections Commission Hasyim Asy'ari (center) and his members speak to reporters at the KPU Office, Jakarta regarding the results of the KPU leadership meeting with the President, Monday (30/5/2022).

A KPU member, Yulianto Sudrajat, emphasized that the 2024 election stage would not be delayed. The consignment meeting has sought common ground regarding the stages, including the Rp 76.6 trillion [US$5,253,188.06) election budget that has been agreed upon. "Today [Monday] we met the President, and the President confirmed that he accepted the KPU, the preparations for the KPU's administration and ensured that the stages will immediately be implemented. We will meet with the DPR according to the schedule on 7 [June]," he said.

When the consultation meeting is finished and it is agreed upon, the PKPU draft will go directly to the Law and Human Rights Ministry.

He gave his assurance that the PKPU draft on the stages, programs and schedule of the 2024 general elections would be ratified on time. This is because the KPU has communicated with the Law and Human Rights Ministry for acceleration steps so that the harmonization process can be carried out quickly. When the consultation meeting is finished and it is agreed upon, the PKPU draft will go directly to the Law and Human Rights Ministry.

Meanwhile, the DPR's move to postpone the hearing with the KPU has drawn criticism. "The indirect influence is even worse, namely the impression that there are parties that are not serious about discussing the stages of the 2024 elections," said secretary-general of the Independent Election Monitoring Committee Kaka Suminta. (REK/PDS/INA)

(This article was translated by Hyginus Hardoyo).