Discussing Elections During Pandemic

KOMPAS/HERU SRI KUMORO

The logos of political parties are displayed at the General Elections Commission (KPU) office, Jakarta, Wednesday (22/1/2020).

As usual, two years after the election, political parties began preparing to amend the Elections Law. What is unusual, now we are fighting against a virus.

In a meeting at the Legislation Body, the factions in the House of Representatives and government representatives have agreed on revisions of the Elections Law to be included in the 2021 Priority National Legislation Program. However, now, 10 political parties that have seats in the House are reconsidering. Some think it is necessary to revise the law, some oppose it.

The COVID-19 pandemic is classified as an extraordinary circumstance. Everyone on Earth is even affected by it. This health crisis gave rise to an economic crisis of unprecedented severity in history. The order of social life is in ruins.

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In this context, the decision to revise or not to revise the Elections Law should also be considered. Moreover, until now, Indonesia has not been able to control the SARS-CoV-2 attack. This virus has infected more than 1 million citizens. In the past week, 295 people were killed per day. Vaccination will still take 15 months. The end of the pandemic is yet to be predicted.

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Since the Reform Era, the electoral laws, namely the laws on presidential/vice presidential elections or the election of members of the House, the Regional Representatives Council (DPD) and the Regional Legislative Council (DPRD), have been frequently revised, either through laws or government regulations in lieu of law (Perppu). Since its promulgation in 1999, revisions were made in 2000, 2003 and 2004, 2007 and 2008, 2010 and 2012 and 2017.

Kompas/Heru Sri Kumoro

Live streaming statement from the commissioner of the General Elections Commission related to the anticipation of the spread of Covid-19 in the holding of the 2020 Regional Election at the Bawaslu Office, Jakarta, Tuesday (17/3/2020).

Regarding the 2019 election, there are indeed several regulations that need to be evaluated. The simultaneous election of the president, the legislators at the House, DPD and DPRD, for example, is considered to have made the workload of organizers very heavy. Another problem was that the elections caused polarization in society. The grouping of national and local elections is also a concern.

We certainly hope that the 10 political parties that have seats in the House, even if they continue to revise them, are not based on short-term political pragmatism.

However, apart from these substantial things, political pragmatism also often sticks out. Each political party tries to insert articles in an effort to win the election even before it starts. As a result, the efforts to maintain a (political) position feel stronger than efforts to strengthen democracy. We certainly hope that the 10 political parties that have seats in the House, even if they continue to revise them, are not based on short-term political pragmatism.

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The international parliamentary organization, the Inter-Parliamentary Union, pointed out that the role of the House during the pandemic is primarily to issue emergency regulations to protect the people, especially those who are vulnerable to COVID-19. Parliaments also need to maximize support for the government in handling the crisis and ensure the process is democratic.

House members also reach out to their constituents as much as possible to campaign for healthy living. Many House members even donate their salaries to vulnerable people. There is no time for narrow pragmatism. All energy, thoughts, attention and even income should be devoted to saving the people from the clutches of the COVID-19 pandemic.

(This article was translated by Kurniawan H. Siswoko).