Ketum NasDem Surya Paloh: It's Better Not To Have An Election If There Is A Split

Nasdem General Chair Surya Paloh while giving a statement at the Aceh Nasdem DPW office, in Banda Aceh, Monday (27/6/2022) (ANTARA/Rahmat Fajri) (ANTARA/Rahmat Fajri)

JAKARTA - Chairman of the DPP NasDem Party Surya Paloh said it would be better not to hold a general election (election) if the democratic party resulted in the division of the Indonesian nation.

"It would be better if there was no election if it had consequences for the division of this nation," said Surya Paloh in Banda Aceh, as reported by ANTARA, Monday, June 27.

Surya Paloh said this in his remarks when he inaugurated the Aceh NasDem Party DPW office, in Banda Aceh. He said that the 2024 Simultaneous Election was scheduled to be held, so the process had to be followed because it was a mandate from the constitution.

"But, I say as the General Chair of NasDem, why hold elections if this nation must be divided?" he insisted.

According to him, elections must be held on condition that all parties involved respect the democratic party, maintain integrity, and maintain the unity and integrity of the Indonesian nation.

"So, we need to take lessons from the previous elections so that the quality of the elections in the future is much better than what we have been through," he said.

It must be admitted, he said, that the 2019 election has left sadness, pain, and wounds in the hearts of some Indonesian people, even causing trauma. According to him, divisions occur not only in the community, but also in the family environment.

Therefore, he added, all parties must take lessons from what has happened before.

"The practice of polarizing, discrediting has brought words that are not encouraging, even pitting them against each other. This must not be repeated," he said.

He asked all parties to have the same mission and responsibilities, both parties and participants in the legislative elections must encourage better and quality elections, not feel great or the most self-righteous.

"The current position that the nation needs, whatever group it is, throw it away. Let's build Indonesia together," he said.