South Sulawesi Bawaslu Has No Authority To Order Candidate Billboards

The Election Supervisory Agency (Bawaslu) of South Sulawesi Province cannot control props for candidates and presidential candidates that are crowded with public places.

"It is in KPU Regulation number 15 of 2023, article 79 concerning Socialization and Political Education. So, this is considered a space for socialization, why because it is not the campaign season yet. So at PKPU there is room for it (can install props)," said South Sulawesi Bawaslu member Saiful Jihad in Makassar as reported by ANTARA, Friday, September 8.

Saiful called the installation of the props as an image and public introduction, no one was blamed, because the rules have not yet become participants in the election and the legislative candidate has not yet been appointed as a List of Permanent Candidates (DCT).

"That could change the serial number, it's still DCS (Temporary List of Candidates), not DCT. The second thing, the KPU wants to blame as an administrative violator, but the reason is not us (KPUD)," he said.

Although Bawaslu does not have the authority and legal basis for controlling props, his party hopes that the Regional Government (Pemda), both provincial and city districts, will issue regulations in terms of structuring city aesthetics.

"We hope that this will then be brought under control through Regional Regulations (Perda) relating to inappropriate installations, possibly installed on trees. But it's not that our space to enter there controls, what our authority is," he said.

His party has coordinated with the Civil Service Police Unit (Satpol PP) which has the authority to control the props, because Bawaslu does not have a legal basis for executing the props.

"We hope that the local government as the superior agency will regulate if there is a violation of the paste (paku) in the tree, and public spaces, such as blocking street lights and others, can be arranged," he hoped.

Bawaslu continued Saiful, currently his authority is still limited in taking action, such as controlling props, because no candidates have yet been determined.

Although the campaign period is given to election participants for 75 days, there will be 25 days of free time after DCT's announcement, that was before entering the campaign period. So according to him, the time lag is prone to misuse even though the time has been set.

Previously, the KPU issued PKPU number 15 of 2023 concerning Election Campaigns. In the regulation promulgated on July 17, 2023, it was stated that the KPU prohibited Election participants from campaigning outside of schedule. It's just that it does not contain sanctions provisions for those who violate it.

Article 79 in this PKPU allows Political Parties to carry out socialization and political education within the party before the campaign period on November 28, 2024. The socialization and political education form is the installation of flags and party serial numbers, as well as limited gatherings.