KPU Chair Calls Elections Like Chess: Those Who Play Are Aja, Losing Competitive Again

JAKARTA - The chairman of the General Elections Commission (KPU) said that elections can be seen from three points of view. The main point of view, elections are political events.

This was revealed by Hasyim in the Joint Prayer of the 2024 Peaceful Election which was also attended by Minister of Home Affairs Tito Karnavian, Constitutional Court Judge Wahiddudin Adams, Deputy Minister of Religion Zainut Tauhid, Chairman of the Election Supervisory Body Rahmat Bagja, Grand Imam of the Istiqlal Mosque Nasaruddin Umar, and a number of representatives of political parties.

"What we usually understand is that elections are political events. Elections are in order to fill state positions through healthy, democratic competitions," said Hasyim at Bentara Budaya Jakarta, Thursday, August 31.

The second point of view, according to Hasyim, is that elections can be seen as an economic event. In a sense, holding elections involves many people involved, so that economic contribution appears in it.

Third, Hasyim sees the election as a cultural event. Based on his discussion with cultural observer Sujiwo Tedjo, they agreed that the election could be considered a game.

"The election and the regional head election are like playing chess, like playing football, playing ping pong, playing gape. Those who play are just that. They lose, they will compete again. They will lose again, they will compete again," said Hasyim.

"There is no story of losing (then) sinking, it doesn't exist. It must be after that, meeting his friends, wanting to repeat the games again," he continued.

On the other hand, Hasyim also emphasized that the process of holding elections, however the result, is the will of God. Thus, prayer activities for the success of the election are important.

"What is called competing in democratic elections, the results cannot be predicted. Therefore, in addition to competing, competing is also important to pray that it is connected to the voice of the sky," he added.