The Reason For The DPR Regarding The 30 Percent Target For Female Representation In KPU-Bawaslu Members

JAKARTA - Commission II of the DPR RI has appointed seven members of the RI KPU and five members of the RI Bawaslu for the period 2022-2027. However, a number of parties regretted the DPR because it did not heed the requirement for women's representation of at least 30 percent in the election of candidates for the 2022-2027 election.

In response, the Deputy Chair of Commission II of the DPR RI from the NasDem Faction, Saan Mustopa, revealed the reason for not achieving the target of 30 percent of women's representation in the composition of KPU-Bawaslu RI members for the 2022-2027 period.

Where, of the 7 RI KPU commissioners and 5 RI Bawaslu members, women were only represented by Betty Epsilon Idroos at the KPU and Lolly Suhenty at Bawaslu.

According to Saan, basically, the DPR has a high commitment to encourage the representation of 30 percent of women. However, he said, only two names emerged which were the result of the election process in the DPR.

"When in the DPR there is a political process, there is a negotiation process. In the end, yes, we can only do one more," Saan told reporters at the DPR Building, Thursday, February 17.

Even so, the NasDem politician claimed that Commission II of the DPR continues to seek membership of the new KPU-Bawaslu RI with a target of 30 percent women's representation.

"That's what we will encourage the new KPU. When we do the selection later, we will establish KPUs in provinces and regencies/municipalities, the provincial and regency/city Bawaslu, pay attention so that the representation of 30 percent of women can be realized. We will push it there," said Saan Mustopa.

Meanwhile, Deputy Chairman of Commission II of the DPR from the PDIP faction, Junimart Girsang, assessed that those who regretted the result should also look at the number of candidates for election organizers proposed by the selection team (Timsel).

"Do you enter 30 percent? For example, enter. Do we have to choose those 3? We don't want to be trapped either," said Junimart at the DPR Building, Thursday, February 17.

The PDIP legislator explained that the number of women offered by South Timor was only 30 percent. Commission II of the DPR, said Junimart, must of course be objective in choosing female candidates who really deserve to be elected.

"So we don't have to deal with a dilemma. The KPU has 1 woman, Bawaslu 1, there is representation, you know," he explained.

"Unless 5 are submitted by women to the KPU, we are comfortable, comfortable to decide. But if 3 out of 14 while we choose 7, what is this? Do we have to pass the three? We must also be objective in responding to this," he continued.

Previously, the Association for Elections and Democracy (Perludem) regretted that the DPR did not pay attention to women's representation.

"I deeply regret that the DPR, especially Commission II of the DPR, has not heeded the provisions of the Constitution and the Election Law which requires filling in the membership of the KPU and Bawaslu to pay attention to women's representation of at least 30 percent. full to decide," said a member of the Advisory Council of Needdem, Titi Anggraini, to reporters on Thursday, February 17.

Titi assessed that the DPR was repeating the 2012 tradition by only placing one woman in the KPU and Bawaslu ranks. In fact, according to Titi, there are many public incentives that want to strengthen women's representation in the KPU and Bawaslu.

"Unfortunately they are repeating the tradition since 2012, only placing one woman in the KPU and Bawaslu membership. Even though there is very strong public pressure and encouragement for that. I feel the courage of the DPR to ignore the aspirations of many components of society regarding strengthening women's representation in the KPU and Bawaslu is a bad indication of the future of elections that are more inclusive and female-friendly in 2024. I am pessimistic that there will be conditions that promise progress regarding women's representation in our politics in the future," he said.

Titi assessed that the 2024 election would be an unusual election for Indonesia. Because the election voting will be done on the same day as the election.

Not only that, the election will be held in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. And in the middle of the process of moving the country's capital city which affects the focus of officials.

"The 2024 election is also in the middle of the process of moving the state capital, which can affect the focus and concentration of officials and state apparatus in preparing for the election," he said.

He said that the elected KPU and Bawaslu candidates offered many innovations and breakthroughs in the implementation and supervision of the 2024 Election. This was both the use of technology and synergy.

"For this reason, they must immediately consolidate the various things offered with the internal KPU and Bawaslu institutions as well as various other external parties related to the work plan and budget availability in supporting all the ideas they are going to do. If it's too late, what can they do? They explained that during the fit and proper test, it would be something that is far-fetched and cannot be realized," he concluded.

It is known that Commission II of the Indonesian House of Representatives has determined the elected members of the KPU and Bawaslu for the 2022-2027 period on Wednesday, February 16, evening.

The seven elected KPU members are Betty Epsilon Idroos, Hasyim Asy'ari, Mochammad Afifuddin, Parsadaan Harahap, Yulianto Sudrajat, Idham Holik and August Mellaz.

Meanwhile, the five members of the RI Bawaslu are Lolly Suhenty, Puadi, Rahmat Bagja, Totok Haryono, and Herwyn Jefler Hielsa Malonda.