People\'s Welfare is the Supreme Law

KOMPAS/JUMARTO YULIANUS

A crowd of supporters bearing campaign flags surround the South Kalimantan governor and deputy governor candidates, Denny Indrayana and Difriadi Darjat (center, wearing garlands), as the group heads en masse for the pair to register at the South Kalimantan General Elections Commission (KPU) on Saturday (5/9/2020) in Banjarmasin. Using the moniker “H2D” for Haji Denny-Difriadi, the candidates have the backing of three political parties in the 2020 regional elections

Roman philosopher Marcus Tullius Cicero (106 BC – 43 BC) said that the people\'s welfare should be the supreme law. Salus populi suprema lex esto.

Cicero\'s thoughts from two thousand years ago about how leaders should consider various state issues are still relevant. People\'s welfare should always be placed above everything.

One of the national problems that needs to be considered carefully at this time is the holding of the simultaneous regional elections on Dec. 9. Should this democratic activity go as planned or be postponed to prevent the spread of COVID-19?

Or course, no one knows when the pandemic will end. The postponement of the regional elections until the pandemic is over is definitely not a solution. The options are to hold the elections in December 2020 or to postpone it until March 2021 or September 2021.

Also read: Regional Elections, Pandemic and Threats of Recession

Countries holding elections during the current pandemic are especially concerned with the growing trend of new COVID-19 cases. The readiness of organizers and voters should also be considered because they realize that elections during a pandemic are very difficult because they must follow strict health protocols.

The record rose to 2,000 cases in one day in July, 3,000 cases in one day in August and 4,000 cases in one day in September.

Currently, the number of the daily new cases of COVID-19 in Indonesia is increasing sharply. In June, the highest daily figure was 1,000 new cases. The record rose to 2,000 cases in one day in July, 3,000 cases in one day in August and 4,000 cases in one day in September.

KOMPAS/MEGANDIKA WICAKSONO

Masks and physical distancing are in short supply as supporters raise their arms to cheer M. Sulhan Fauzi and Zaini Makarim Supriyatno after the candidate pair registered at the Purbalingga General Elections Commission (KPU) on Sunday (6/9/2020) in Rembang, Purbalingga Central Java. The Oji-Zaini pair are running for Purbalingga regent and deputy regent in the 2020 simultaneous regional elections.

Most of the 270 regions that will hold regional elections, based on data from the COVID-19 handling task force, were located in areas of high and medium risk as of Sept. 13.

Health protocols also tend to be violated. According to Elections Supervisory Agency (Bawaslu) records, 315 prospective candidates ignored health protocols during registration, and the campaign period has yet to start, beginning on Sept. 26.

Many prospective candidates, organizers and supervisors have caught COVID-19, including the chairman of the General Elections Commission (KPU), Arief Budiman,

and KPU member Pramono Ubaid Tanthowi. This is alarming. People may suffer more. Keep in mind that someone who has contracted COVID-19 can infect their spouse, children, father, mother, or relatives who live with them. Family savings accrued over years can vanish. Three generations are at risk.

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

Under such circumstances, the Jokowi-Ma\'ruf administration, the House of Representatives and the KPU need to carefully consider whether to hold the regional elections according to the existing schedule or find a more appropriate time.

Cicero said that a public service would run well if people or groups were willing to sacrifice their self-interest for the sake of the common good. With that, political tasks would become sacred and heaven would await the statesmen who did them.