Regarding The Revision Of The Election Law, The Deputy Minister Of Home Affairs Emphasizes That The System Must Be Long-Term And Maintain National Integrity

Deputy Minister of Home Affairs Bima Arya Sugiarto at the 2024 Public Information Disclosure Monitoring and Evaluation event in Kemayoran, Jakata, Wednesday, November 13, 2024. (ANTARA)

JAKARTA - Deputy Minister of Home Affairs (Wamendagri) Bima Arya Sugiarto said that the revision of the Election Law must consider the national interest (Indonesia Gold 2045) and the global conditions that are currently happening.

Bima Arya emphasized that the revision of the Election Law was based on the framework, system, and political institutions. The electoral system developed during reform is based on the desire for a high level of regional participation.

"The challenge faced today is how to mix the development of the system for the long term while maintaining the integrity of the nation," he said in a webinar at the Faculty of Law, University of Indonesia (FHUI), Friday, August 1, based on a press statement from UI, Friday, quoted by Antara.

In a webinar discussing the Constitutional Court's Decision (MK) Number 135/PUU-XXII/2024 which separates national elections and regional elections, another resource person is the Head of the Department of Political Sciences FISIP UI Dr. Phil. Panju Anugerah Permana, and the Advisory Council of Needdem as well as a lecturer in Constitutional Law at FH UI Titi Anggraini.

Titi emphasized that the Constitutional Court's decision was final and binding and had a direct impact on the election implementation regulations, so it was necessary to comply and be followed up by the government and the DPR.

The government is asked to immediately discuss the Election Bill. Titi said that it is necessary to immediately discuss the Election Bill which includes regulating the legislative elections, presidential elections, regional head elections, and holding elections.

These changes must of course be followed by synchronizing the arrangements between the election for DPRD members, regional elections, and budgeting.

This is because previously the election for DPRD members was financed by the National Revenue and Expenditure Budget (APBN), while the regional elections were financed by the Regional Revenue and Expenditure Budget (APBD).

Meanwhile, Panju called the Constitutional Court's decision a form of judicial overreach which has the potential to disrupt political institutional stability.

"This decision is too far into the realm of technical policy. The impact is not only administrative, but touches on the heart of local democracy: ranging from increasing money politics to populism and elite fragmentation," said Panju.

Panju introduced the A-E Theory framework (access to power and exercise of power) to analyze how this election separation can weaken local government accountability and strengthen the entrenched polarization pattern.