Jakarta, hitclubapk3 Indonesia
—
A number of civil organizations who are members of the Coalition for Codification of the Election Law criticized the proposal for regional head elections
(pilkada) via DPRD
in the midst of dealing with the impact of floods and landslides in Sumatra.
According to the coalition, talking about improving election governance is actually not taboo.However, all parties should see that people’s needs are a priority.The coalition assesses that the current proposal for regional elections via the DPRD only reflects a lust for power and does not reflect empathy for the community.
“Therefore, we consider that what is being proposed, related to the condition of disaster management which is still a problem, is an act of non-empathy,” said researchereludem Haikal, as a representative of the coalition, in his statement, Tuesday (23/12).
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The coalition also stated its firm stance in rejecting the proposal.They consider that indirect regional elections are unconstitutional because they reduce people’s sovereignty and open up a space for darker political transactions behind the doors of parliament or DPRD.
According to the coalition, the problem with regional elections so far is not with the election mechanism, but with governance.If we look closely, he continued, expensive political costs are not caused by direct elections, but because of uncontrolled campaign costs.
Quoting research by Muhtadi (2018), around 25-33 percent of voters in the 2014 election were exposed to money politics.This figure is very likely to increase in the 2019 Election, 2024 Election, and 2024 Regional Election.
“This fact shows that money politics is taking place massively in all electoral arenas in Indonesia, including the regional elections,” said the coalition.
The high political costs are also caused by political dowries during the candidacy or nomination process, ranging from consolidation of party support, electability survey costs, to communication and political network spending.
“Thus, the high cost of regional elections is not caused by the direct election mechanism, but rather by a transactional and unaccountable nomination process,” he said.
Addressing a number of these problems, changing the electoral system to be indirect, is not the answer.The coalition views this perspective as having the potential to change the entire electoral system into an indirect one.
“If this logic is used consistently, then other elections could potentially be abolished simply because of the high level of money politics,” he said.
“Based on the description above, the Coalition for Codification of the Election Law firmly rejects the discourse of returning the Pilkada to the DPRD,” added the coalition.
More than 10 civil organizations are members of the Coalition for the Codification of Election Laws.Some of them include Tulisem, Center for Constitutional Studies (Pusako) FH Andalas University, Center for Political Studies (Puskapol) University of Indonesia, Network for Democracy and Electoral Integrity (Netgrit), and Southeast Asia Freedom of Expression Network (SAFENet).
The discourse on regional elections via the DPRD is rolling again after Golkar held a National Leadership Meeting (Rapimnas) last weekend.One of the Rapimnas recommendations is to encourage indirect regional elections or via the DPRD and permanent coalitions.
Golkar General Chair Bahlil Lahadalia said the recommendation was submitted as a form of implementing people’s sovereignty, while still emphasizing public involvement and participation in the implementation process.
“The Golkar Party proposes regional head elections through the Regional People’s Representative Council,” said Bahlil at the Golkar National Meeting.
Apart from Golkar, this discourse is supported by Gerindra, PAN and PKB.Meanwhile, PDIP and Democrats have firmly rejected it, PKS has proposed variations, and NasDem has not yet spoken out.
Meanwhile, the DPR will begin discussing the Election Bill, which includes the Regional Election Law, in 2026.Later, the eight DPR factions will examine the proposed changes to the regional election system, along with a number of other issues, including the issue of separating national and regional elections based on the decision of the Constitutional Court (MK).
(thr/wis)
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