Sri Mulyani Calls Political Performances Not Allowed To Disturb The Indonesian Development Agenda

Minister of Finance Sri Mulyani (Photo: dock. Antara)

JAKARTA - Indonesian Minister of Finance (Menkeu) Sri Mulyani Indrawati said that political performances related to the 2024 General Election (Pemilu) should not interfere with Indonesia's development agenda.

"It is a normal cycle of democracy that has been regulated by law and Indonesia is a democratic country which means that the general election mechanism has been established. It should not interfere with various development agendas," said Minister of Finance Sri Mulyani quoting Antara.

He said that although Indonesia is facing a political year, development agendas such as improving the quality of human resources and infrastructure development must still be prioritized and implemented in order to realize an advanced Indonesian economy.

Therefore, all parties need to keep elections running conducively and Indonesia's development agenda continues to run optimally and achieves targets.

The total budget allocation for General Elections (elections) from 2022-2024 is IDR 70.6 trillion. The budget is given in stages, in 2022 there will be an election budget of IDR 3.1 trillion, in 2023 it will be IDR 30 trillion, and in 2024 it will be IDR 37.4 trillion.

These allocations are used, among others, to update voter data and compile voter lists, management, procurement, reports and logistics documentation.

The election budget is also used to secure elections, supervise election administration funds, and handle violations of the election administration code of ethics, dissemination of information, socialization and coverage related to elections.

On the other hand, the Head of the Economist of PT Bank Central Asia Tbk David Sumual said that during the election period, the circulation of money and government spending tended to increase so as to provide stimulus in the consumption sector. After the election, the capital market and bond market also reacted bullish or positive.

"Always, our stock price index and bond yield improve after the election. But if we sometimes strengthen the rupiah exchange rate, sometimes it weakens after the election, this is more likely to be influenced by the rupiah, which is an external factor than the election factor," he said.

Previously, Minister of National Development Planning/Head of the National Development Planning Agency (PPN/Bappenas) Suharso Monoarfa stated that political parties and presidential candidates (candidates) and vice presidential candidates (cawapres) must understand national development planning in accordance with the mandate of the 2045 Golden Indonesia Vision.

The planning includes the 2025-2045 National Long Term Development Plan (RPJPN) and the Teknocratic National Medium-Term Plan (RPJMN) 2025-2029.

"So later the elected president will issue a Presidential Decree (Presidential Regulation) regarding the National Medium-Term Development Plan for 2025 to 2029, which is based on the establishment of the 2025-2045 RPJPN," he said at the Socialization of RPJPN 2025-2045 and RPJMN Teknocratic 2025-2029 to the Political Party, at the Bappenas Building.