Regional Elections, Pandemic and Threats of Recession

KOMPAS/MEGANDIKA WICAKSONO

Many supporters gathered to back one of the candidate pairs registering at the General Election Commission (KPU) office in Purbalingga, Central Java, Sunday (6/9/2020), fail to wear masks and keep a distance from one another.

COVID-19 pandemic management is entering a new phase. The simultaneous regional election on Dec. 9 is a new threat that may potentially turn into new COVID-19 clusters. On the other hand, economic recession remains a potential threat that undermines the people’s economy.

In the past seven days (Sept. 2-8), daily new confirmed COVID-19 cases reached 3,000. At the same time, around 50 regents, mayors, their deputies and a governor were reprimanded for “not adhering to health protocols”, especially in the 2020 regional election candidate registration process.

Netizens’ concerns over these issues were recorded in online trending topics. The government faces more difficult challenges and work as the economy is heading into recession. As of Sept. 8, there are 200,035 confirmed COVID-19 cases. Some 3,046 new confirmed cases of the day were obtained from testing on 32,643 specimens.

Also read: Covid-19 Keeps Pace with 2020 Regional Elections

Despite the continuous increase of COVID-19 cases, the government still strives to spread hope by focusing on the huge number of people recovering from COVID-19. In a day, 2,306 COVID-19 patients recovered. In total, 142,958 COVID-19 patients have now recovered.

This is based on not only the high number of COVID-19 cases in Indonesia but also considerations of the government’s capability to resolve the outbreak.

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to 59 countries issuing entry bans for Indonesians. This is based on not only the high number of COVID-19 cases in Indonesia but also considerations of the government’s capability to resolve the outbreak. However, relaxed rules exist for business visits related to national strategic projects and urgent government-related work visits.

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused Indonesia’s economic growth to take a deep plunge. Statistics Indonesia (BPS) recorded that Indonesia’s economic growth in the second quarter this year contracted by 5.32 percent year on year. This was worse than the growth of 2.97 percent in the first quarter of this year and 5.05 percent in the same period in 2019. Economic growth in the third quarter of this year is predicted to be between minus 1 percent and minus 2 percent.

Amid this difficult condition, the regional election is expected to go on in December. The 2020 election will be held in 270 regions across Indonesia, comprising nine provinces, 224 regencies and 37 cities. Even though election-organizing during the pandemic has been regulated in General Elections Commission (KPU) Regulation No. 10/2020, all celebrations of democracy will lead to crowds. During the election candidate registration process, some 50 regional heads were reprimanded as the registration process did not comply with health protocols in the KPU Regulation.

Also read: Uphold Regional Election Protocols

The hashtag #TindakPawaiPilkada (#PunishRegionalElectionParades) has become a Twitter trending topic since Sept. 7. Calls to act firmly against violators who attract crowds that do not comply with health protocols reached 11,000 tweets.

After the election candidate registration process, at least two more stages of the regional election will potentially attract crowds. First is the announcement of election candidates that fulfill registration requirements on Sept. 23. Second is the campaign period between Sept. 26 and Dec. 5.

There are concerns that the regional elections will lead to surges of confirmed COVID-19 cases. Meanwhile, stopping the spread of COVID-19 is the key to chasing positive economic growth in Q3 and Q4 this year.

Regulation

KPU Regulation No. 10/2020 has specifically stipulated the registration procedures of election candidates, including limited meetings and in-person meetings and dialogues political parties, election candidates or campaign teams, public distribution of campaign materials or other allowed activities.

However, in reality, violations were rampant during the registration of election candidates on Sept. 4-6.

Only candidates and their supporting political parties’ chairs and secretaries or their equivalencies are allowed to attend the registration of election candidates. However, in reality, violations were rampant during the registration of election candidates on Sept. 4-6.

At least 50 regional heads were reprimanded by the Home Ministry for violating health protocols during the 2020 regional election candidate registration process.

The next step is announcing the candidates that fulfill requirements on Sept. 23. After that is the campaign period from Sept. 26 to Dec. 5. Limited meetings and in-person meetings and dialogues political parties, election candidates or campaign teams are stipulated in Article 58.

Various prerequisites have been set, including holding activities indoors or in a closed space, a 50-person limit on number of attendees, keeping a physical distance of at least one meter between attendees and the possibility of joining the activities virtually.

Article 60 stipulates public distribution of campaign materials. Campaign materials must be distributed cleanly, wrapped in liquid-proof materials and sterilized. The officers distributing the campaign materials must also wear gloves and masks over their nose, mouth and chin. Distribution of campaign materials must not attract crowds.

KOMPAS/WILIBRORDUS MEGANDIKA WICAKSONO

The atmosphere of the Purbalingga Maju Coalition Declaration of Change that carries the candidate for the district head of Purbalingga M Sulhan Fauzi and the candidate for deputy head of the Purbalingga Regent Zaini Makarim Supriyatno in Rembang, Purbalingga, Central Java,  on Sunday (6/9/2020).

Other activities not violating campaign bans can be held, but the number of attendees must be limited to 100. COVID-19 prevention and control protocols must be enforced and organizers must coordinate with regional health agencies and COVID-19 task forces.

Clear regulations will not do anything if they are not enforced firmly. The central government is urged to act firmly against violators of health protocols during the 2020 regional election.

KPU as the agency responsible to arrange and ensure regional election schedule during the pandemic must assure that rules are enforced. Adherence on health protocols during the election candidate registration process must be evaluated so that violations will not recur in the future.

Also read: Home Minister Bans Mass Rallies during 2020 Regional Elections

These efforts must be carried out to prevent COVID-19 clusters from emerging in regional election process. We must watch out for crowds emerging from parades or expressions of joy as well as anger and disappointment.

Challenges

The government faces a difficult challenge ahead of the recession due to the pandemic and the 2020 Regional Election. Holding an election during a pandemic is highly complex. Challenges are more difficult compared to elections in regular times. Organizers and candidates are forced to adjust to pandemic conditions.

The government must at least ensure that the required budget has been earmarked, health protective equipment has been distributed, organizers and candidates have understood the importance of adhering to health protocols during the COVID-19 pandemic and voters have high level of trust toward election organizers and process.

The government’s inability to resolve the COVID-19 outbreak will be questioned by certain groups during the 2020 election.

Furthermore, COVID-19 may be politicized during the campaign. This is a challenge the government must face. The government’s inability to resolve the COVID-19 outbreak will be questioned by certain groups during the 2020 election. Moreover, hoaxes will be more rampant during the election.

Ensuring public adherence or discipline on health protocols to reduce COVID-19 spread is something the government must work on properly and firmly.

This is not only to ensure a successful regional election but also to create economic growth. If COVID-19 spread can be reduced, various government programs on absorbing spending budget, social assistance fund and salary subsidies will boost the economy.

Everyone involved in holding the 2020 regional election must be wiser in holding elections, especially in campaigns. This is inseparable from the number of COVID-19 cases, which is still increasing in Indonesia.

In the end, the key of all this is continuous adherence to health protocols in order to prevent the further spread of COVID-19. (KOMPAs R&D)