Consolidation as First Step of KPU and Bawaslu

Kompas/Wawan H Prabowo (WAK)

Residents pass through a mural of the General Election Commission (KPU) that invites public participation in elections in the Dukuh Atas area, Jakarta, Friday (5/6/2020).

The workloads of members of the General Election Commission (KPU) and the General Election Supervisory Agency (Bawaslu) for 2022 to 2027 are relatively burdensome because of the complexity of the implementation of the 2024 general elections. Internal consolidation should be completed before the election stages begin.

JAKARTA, KOMPAS — The General Election Commission (KPU) and the General Election Supervisory Agency (Bawaslu) are facing pressure to move fast for the 2022 to 2027 period to prepare for the uniquely complex 2024 simultaneous elections. Institutional consolidation should be the step taken immediately after general election organizers are selected and established by the House of Representatives.

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Internal consolidation should ideally be finished before the election stages begin in June. The transitional period before the installation of new personnel in mid-April should also be used by new members of the KPU and Bawaslu to have coordination and consultation meetings with general election organizers of the previous period. This consultation is important to ensure the continuity of preparation for the 2024 elections.

From Monday to Wednesday evening (16/2/2022), House Commission II conducted a fit-and-proper test on 14 candidates for KPU positions and 10 candidates for Bawaslu positions. Commission II was to select seven candidates for the KPU and five candidates for Bawaslu to be decided at a plenary meeting.

After the fit-and-proper test, Commission II convened a selection plenary meeting. However, as of 11:30 p.m., the selection plenary had not yet begun. Commission II factions were still engaged in lobbying to agree on the mechanism of selection.

Although the mechanism was not yet approved, several factions had secured the names of candidates to be chosen. The lists of names of seven KPU candidates and five Bawaslu candidates in various versions had been circulating days before the fit-and-proper test started.

As planned, results of the selection of general election organizing commissioners would be validated at the last plenary meeting of Session Period III of the 2021-2022 Session Year on Friday (18/2).

House Commission II chairman Ahmad Doli Kurnia Tandjung said the results of the selection plenary meeting would be reported to the meeting of the Consultative Body (Bamus) on Thursday (17/2). As planned, results of the selection of general election organizing commissioners would be validated at the last plenary meeting of Session Period III of the 2021-2022 Session Year on Friday (18/2).

Doli called to mind that a number of assignments were awaiting elected members of the KPU and Bawaslu. The imminent homework was to follow up and finalize the discussion on the design and concept of the 2024 general elections, especially related to their stages, programs and timetables. This is because, so far, the KPU has only determined the dates of 2024 general and regional elections, while the discussion on election stages, programs and timetables is not yet complete.

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House Commission II deputy chairman Luqman Hakim of the National Awakening Party added that the plans for the general election and regional election stages and timetables should be promptly drawn up to avoid overlap. The Covid-19 pandemic and its impact were also challenges that should be overcome. Therefore, technical rules were needed at the stages of preparation, general election implementation and determination of general election results, with public health being given primary consideration.

KOMPAS/DWI BAYU RADIUS

Banners with images of political parties are installed in front of the Serang City General Election Commission (KPU) office in Serang, Banten, Friday (5/4/2019).

Later, institutionally, continued Doli, elected members of the KPU and Bawaslu should undertake internal consolidation. They should prepare organizers to the level of quality polling stations. Moreover, the terms of office of a number of KPU and Bawaslu members in regions would soon come to an end.

Their internal consolidation should be completed before election stages begin so as not to disturb the implementation of general elections.

National coordinator of the Network of Education of Voters for the People (JPPR), Nurlia Dian Paramita, also warned that the first step to be taken should be internal consolidation by sharing the common vision and mission already promoted by candidates. “Their internal consolidation should be completed before election stages begin so as not to disturb the implementation of general elections,” she said.

Besides, according to Nurlia, it was also important to form 360-degree supervision to safeguard integrity. There should be no recurrence of such legal issues as bribery and other deviations involving general election organizing members.

Smooth transition

Separately, the director of Kata Rakyat Riset dan Konsultasi, Alwan Ola Riantoby, noted that the transitional period before installation in April should be utilized by KPU and Bawaslu members to communicate with general election organizers still in office. This was meant to ensure the continuity of institutional policies and the exchange of information about the latest developments of the preparations undertaken for 2024.

A Commission II member from the Prosperous Justice Party Faction, Mardani Ali Sera, said there should be a joint meeting between former and new KPU and Bawaslu members. Coordination and consultation were needed so that the transition in organizing general elections would run smoothly.

SITA NURAZMI MAKHRUFAH UNTUK KOMPAS

General Election Commission Head Office, Central Jakarta, Sunday (6/1/2019).

Coordination was also important to enable KPU and Bawaslu members to directly continue the discussions on the stages of the general election preparation already underway. Furthermore, only four months were left before the stages were to begin. (SYA/REK)

(This article was translated by Aris Prawira)