Want Pilkada Postponed In 2014, PDIP DKI: Don't Attach Anies Prevention

The Governor of DKI Jakarta, Anies Baswedan. (Photo: DKI Jakarta Provincial Government Public Relations)

JAKARTA - Chairman of the PDI-P Faction at the DPRD, Gembong Warsono, admitted that his party wants the DKI regional elections to be held simultaneously in 2024.

However, Gembong denied that the intention was only to prevent the electability of DKI Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan from decreasing if the 2022 Pilkada was postponed to 2024. This is because Anies's term of office will expire in 2022.

"If the PDI Perjuangan is more inclined to be carried out in 2024 to maintain consistency in planning. So, do not link the consistency of implementation with Anies' prevention. There is no such matter," said Gembong when contacted, Friday, February 5.

Gembong explained that PDIP only wants to implement the rules in Law Number 1 of 2015 concerning Pilkada. In this regulation, it is stipulated that the pilkada will be held simultaneously with the national election in 2024.

Therefore, Gembong assessed that the plan to postpone the 2022 and 2023 regional elections being postponed to 2024 is unlikely to be the basis for tackling Anies. Because, when the Pilkada Law was drafted, Anies had not been elected as the Governor of DKI.

"The Pilkada Law is around 2015-2016. This means that simultaneous Pilkada is drafted before Anies becomes governor. So, there is no connection to tackle it. It's just too big, people say that," said Gembong.

Regarding the PDIP's rejection of the Election Bill (RUU) currently being processed by the DPR, Gembong said that all parties must carry out the constitutional mandate that has not been implemented.

The DPR, in their proposed Election Bill which they drafted as of November 26, wants the next regional elections to be normalized in 2022 (for the continuation of the 2017 Pilkada) and in 2023 (for the continuation of the 2018 Pilkada).

"So, this is consistency with planning. So in 2015, simultaneous elections are planned in 2024, right? This has not been implemented yet, how come we want to be evaluated," he said.