He Said, There Would Be No Single Candidate If DPR Members Were Allowed To Take Leave During The Pilkada

JAKARTA - Member of Commission III DPR RI Arteria Dahlan on behalf of the DPR claims that there will not be a single candidate in the pilkada if legislators are not obliged to resign while competing in the pilkada. This was reported by Antara, Thursday, August 13.

"If members of the DPR are allowed to take leave, it is certain that there is no single candidate in the elections in this republic," said Arteria Dahlan in a judicial review of the Pilkada Law at the Constitutional Court Building, Wednesday, August 13.

He argues, the enactment of Article 7 paragraph (2) letter s of Law Number 10 of 2016 related to regional elections which requires the resignation of legislative members since being appointed as regional head candidates has an impact on the lack of participants participating in the election contest.

Meanwhile, a single candidate or puppet candidate promoted by a political party threatens the quality of the pilkada and reflects a setback in the implementation of democracy.

Apart from the issue of a single candidate, Arteria Dahlan said that the norm in the article causes legislators to be unable to carry out their duties and obligations for five years because they are replaced by an interim replacement mechanism after resigning to participate in the regional elections.

"Members of the DPR, DPD, DPRD should receive the same treatment as regional heads, namely carrying out their duties and authority and obligations for 5 years and not even one second deducted," said Arteria Dahlan.

There was also a judicial review of the Pilkada Law that was requested by DPR member Anwar Hafid and member of the West Sumatra DPRD Arkadius Dt. Diamond Baso.

The petitioners examined Article 7 paragraph (2) letter s of the Pilkada Law which regulates the requirements for resignation of legislative members after being appointed as a candidate for regional head. The petitioners argued that legislators should be equated with candidates for defense or ministers who are only required to take leave outside the state's responsibility during the campaign.