Even Though COVID-19 Cases Are High, The 2020 Regional Elections Are Almost Impossible To Postpone

Ilustrasi (Ilham Amin / VOI)

JAKARTA - A number of civil society coalitions are urging that the 2020 Pilkada be postponed. Because, it is feared that the transmission of COVID-19 cases will soar.

Responding to this, the Head of Legislation at the Directorate General of Regional Autonomy at the Ministry of Home Affairs, Saydiman Marto, said that the option to delay could occur. This is because the postponement is regulated in Law Number 6 of 2020 concerning the implementation of regional elections during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Even so, Saydiman mentioned several considerations that made postponing the 2020 Pilkada almost impossible to postpone again.

"I do not say that the 2020 Pilkada cannot be postponed because this is an agreement of all stakeholders. However, there are some logical and realistic considerations that may illustrate why the regional elections should be held," Saydiman said in a webinar discussion, Wednesday, September 9.

Saydiman said, the term of office of regional heads in 270 regions that participated in the 2020 Pilkada will end at the beginning of next year.

When the election is postponed again, it means that the leadership in the area will be filled by the acting (Pj) as long as the term of office of the regional head expires and does not have a new regional head.

Unfortunately, officials have limitations, namely they cannot make strategic decisions and execute policies. In fact, this is necessary in dealing with a pandemic.

"The limitation is that an official occupies two government positions. At the same time, it is difficult to concentrate on the existing (temporary regional head) position in addition to the definitive position that is held," he said.

Second, if the 2020 Pilkada is postponed again, the number of voters recorded by the General Election Commission (KPU) will increase with first-time voters who are 17 years old when voting day is set.

"If there is a delay, the voter list will become mobile data and will automatically add other sources of funding," he said.

Third, the Ministry of Home Affairs has also proposed that regional heads when campaigning include a vision and mission on how to deal with and break the chain of the spread of COVID-19 and overcome the social and economic impacts of the pandemic.

"That is a logical consideration in the implementation of this regional election," he concluded.