East Java Deputy Governor Emil Dardak Reported To Bawaslu For 2 Finger Greetings At Cawalkot Machfud Arifin Event

Dock. Instagram photos of emildardak

SURABAYA - The Election Supervisory Agency (Bawaslu) of Surabaya City, East Java, received a report on alleged violations committed by the Deputy Governor of East Java Emil Elistianto Dardak. Emil reportedly raised two fingers at the event with the pair number two, Machfud Arifin-Mujiaman Sukirno.

"Yes, there is a report coming to us. We are still investigating it, we will review it again," said Head of Bawaslu for the City of Surabaya, Muhammad Agil Akbar, confirmed on Tuesday, September 29.

Photo of Emil Dardak brandishing a two-finger greeting uploaded to Instagram Machfud Arifin @ cak.machfudarifin, on Sunday, September 27. In the photo, Emil is seen sitting in a chair flanked by Machfud on the left and Mujiaman on the right. A written photo description of Emil has his capacity as Deputy Governor of East Java, not as Acting Chairman of the East Java Democrats.

"Are there any violations, all of them are still potential, not in plenary session," said Agil.

Emil was reported by Panwascam to Bawaslu because of his position as Deputy Governor of East Java. According to Agil, Bawaslu is guided by Article 69 of the Election Law.

"In that article, eleven campaign prohibitions are mentioned. Well, the involvement of regional heads in the campaign is regulated in Article 71," he explained.

Agil explained, according to the rules for the 2020 simultaneous regional elections, a regional official may participate in certain candidate pairs' activities if they have submitted a campaign permit. Meanwhile, Bawaslu Surabaya has not received a campaign permit from the regional head, including from Emil Dardak as Deputy Governor of East Java.

"That's why we will review it first. So far we have not received a campaign permit. But we do not know whether it is already in the provincial (KPU) or what? We need further coordination," said Agil.