Head Of Bawaslu: PSU Pilkada Palopo City "All Clear"

Chairman of the Indonesian Bawaslu Rahmat Bagja (right) is monitoring the implementation of the 2024 Palopo City Pilkada re-voting in Palopo, South Sulawesi, Saturday (24/5/2025). (ANTARA)

PALOPO - Chairman of the Indonesian Bawaslu Rahmat Bagja said the 2024 Palopo City Pilkada re-voting (PSU) was running safely or all clear because supervision had been carried out since the early stages of changing prospective participants.

"God willing, it will be clear," said Rahmat Bagja in response to ANTARA after conducting a review of the polling station (tps) in Palopo City, South Sulawesi, Saturday.

He explained that the PSU in Palopo City stems from the decision of the Constitutional Court which disqualified a candidate for mayor. Following up on the decision, Bawaslu has overseen the change of candidates who will compete in the PSU.

First, is there a condition or not? Then, it is fulfilled or not. Indeed, there are problems, such as tax reports that have been followed up by KPU friends, reports on annual SPT," he said.

In addition, he said that the implementation of the PSU in Palopo City, at least in all butts he was monitoring, had implemented standard operating procedures (SOPs) for voting ballots.

"Everything has been done, not too many problems. Almost no problem at this time," he said.

According to Bagja, there have been no findings or reports from the public until the PSU was held this Saturday. However, Bawaslu and the police managed to prevent mass movement the day before the implementation of the PSU, Friday (23/5).

The movement of the masses was a bit crowded in a certain place. It was prevented to then disperse before entering the voting day," he explained.

It is known, the Constitutional Court in Decision Number 168/PHPU.WAKO-XXIII/2025 decided to partially grant the lawsuit filed by Candidates for Mayor and Deputy Mayor of Palopo Number 2 Farid Kasim and Nurhaenih.

In the verdict, the Constitutional Court disqualified the candidate for mayor number 4 Trisal Tahir from the 2024 Palopo Pilkada participation because he was declared ineligible for nomination in the form of an upper middle education diploma.

The case began when Trisal Tahir submitted a document in the form of a high school equivalent package C diploma to register as a candidate for mayor. During the trial, the Constitutional Court clarified and verified with various related parties. As a result, the Tahir Trisal diploma could not be ascertained.

Therefore, the Court concluded that the candidate on behalf of Trisal Tahir must be declared ineligible to be a participant in the Palopo Mayor Election.

The Constitutional Court ordered the Palopo City KPU to implement the PSU by opening up opportunities first to political parties that carry candidate pair number 4 to propose new candidates without including Trisal Tahir.

Furthermore, the South Sulawesi KPU appointed a new candidate pair at the PSU Pilkada of Palopo City, namely serial number 1 Putri Dakka-Haidir Basir, serial number 2 Farid Kasim-Nurhaenih, serial number 3 Rahmat Masri Bandaso-Andi Tenri Karta, and serial number 4 Naili Trisal-Akhmad Syarifuddin.