Avoid Political Interests, Discussion Of Election Bills Must Go Through The DPR Special Committee

Illustration of the Election Law.(Photo: Doc. KPU)

JAKARTA - Director of Democracy and Electoral Empowerment Partnership (DEEP), Neni Nur Hayati hopes that the Election Bill will not be discussed in the Legislation Body (Baleg) of the DPR to avoid the emergence of certain political interests.

He reflected on the discussion of the Pilkada Bill which was held by Baleg in August 2024. At that time, the Pilkada Bill was canceled after being strongly protested by the public because the revised points were considered to be of strong political interest.

"When discussed in Baleg, the Election Bill is feared to be a political and transactional tool to benefit a handful of elites and group interests. Moreover, it has strengthened the narrative that the regional elections have been returned to the DPRD," said Neni, Sunday, May 11, 2025.

Previously, the discussion on the revision of Law Number 7 of 2017 concerning General Elections (RUU Pemilu) which was included in the 2025 National Legislation Program (Prolegnas) was contested by Baleg and Commission II. Deputy Chairperson of Baleg, Ahmad Doli Kurnia, said that his party had the right to discuss the Election Bill because the Election Bill was proposed to be included in the 2025 Prolegnas by Baleg.

However, Doli's statement was denied by Deputy Chairman of Commission II Aria Bima, who revealed that his party had written to the leadership of the DPR so that the Election Bill was returned to discussion with Commission II.

This is because, usually the Election Bill is discussed II considering that the parties related to electoral relations, such as the Ministry of Home Affairs, the General Elections Commission (KPU) and the Election Supervisory Agency (Bawaslu) RI are partners of Commission II.

If not returned to Commission II, Aria suggested that the DPR form a special committee (special committee) to discuss the Election Bill.

That way, Baleg and Commission II can send competent people to discuss it.

Neni Nur Hayati agrees with Aria Bima's statement. According to him, the revision of the Election Law would be more appropriate if discussed by the special committee so that every faction in the DPR can send members who are comprehensive in the discussion.

"So, the discussion is not in Baleg or Commission II, but through a special committee where each faction sends its members who are considered to have the capacity, capability, and experience to discuss it," he added.

He reminded that the Election Bill should be discussed immediately to prevent the recurrence of the 2024 General Election which is considered problematic.

There are at least four crucial aspects that need to be discussed in the bill, namely related to election organizers, the electoral system, election safety, and the mechanism for resolving election disputes.

"If possible, the discussion of the Election Bill will be completed in 2025. Civil society already has an academic paper and a proposed revision. So, it's just the will of the parliament," Neni concluded.