Comprehensive Reform in KPU Needed

KOMPAS/ALIF ICHWAN

Muhammad, Chairman of the Election Organization Ethics Council (DKPP)

The sanction against the chairman of the General Election Commission (KPU), Arief Budiman, indicates the need for comprehensive reform of the election management body.

Arief was dismissed as the chairman of the KPU by the Election Organization Ethics Council (DKPP) on Wednesday (13/1/2021). The case follows the DKPP’s decision on 18 March to dismiss Evi Novida Ginting as a member of the KPU.

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At that time, the DKPP considered Evi to have held the responsibility of determining the number of votes gained by two candidates for the West Kalimantan Legislative Council (DPRD) from the Gerindra Party, namely Hendri Makaluasc and Cok Hendri Ramapon in the 2019 election. The Constitutional Court (MK) corrected Hendri\'s votes from 5,325 to 5,384 votes. The KPU, then, changed Hendri’s voting results according to the Constitutional Court\'s decision, but did not reduce the votes gained by Cok, who was eventually appointed as a member of the West Kalimantan Legislative Council.

Following the DKPP’s decision, which was final and binding, President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo issued a decision to dismiss Evi as a member of the KPU. However, Evi challenged the presidential decree at the Jakarta State Administrative Court (PTUN). Evi opposed the DKPP ‘s decision, partly because Hendri\'s complaint to the DKPP had previously been withdrawn (Kompas, 20/3/2020).

The KPU plenary meeting then decided that Evi would be reactivated as a member of the KPU for the 2017-2022 period.

The Jakarta PTUN decided to annul the presidential decree regarding Evi\'s dismissal. The President then revoked the presidential decree. The KPU plenary meeting then decided that Evi would be reactivated as a member of the KPU for the 2017-2022 period.

Kompas/Heru Sri Kumoro

Chairperson of the Commissioner of the General Election Commission Arief Budiman wearing masks and face shields in the Supplementary Electoral Data Submission, Socialization of Stages and Launching of the 2020 Election Stages at the KPU Office, Jakarta, on Thursday (18/6/2020).

However, in its decision, DKPP found that Arief had violated the code of ethics and code of conduct of the election organizers regarding the reactivation of Evi as a member of the KPU.

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Law Number 7 of 2017 concerning elections gives a mandate to the DKPP to deal with violations of the code of ethics in the election administration. The DKPP has so far found that some members of election organizers have violated the code of ethics. The condition is worrisome, especially because at the same time there are other members of the election organizers who have to undergo a legal process for committing criminal offenses such as corruption.

These cases pose a serious threat to the credibility of election organizers, the KPU, DKPP, and the Election Supervisory Board (Bawaslu). Comprehensive change is urgently needed. The change should be made so that these institutions are led by competent figures with integrity. The problems related to Evi’s case, and rumors of alleged rivalry between the institutions in their decision to dismiss Arief, indicate that improvements are also urgently needed to the existing designs and systems in each election management body.

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The reform is crucial because to ensure more qualified national leaders. Election administrators play a vital role in realizing quality elections.

A number of improvements can be made through the revision of the Election Law, which will be carried out this year.

This article was translated by Hendarsyah Tarmizi.