KPU's Response To Megawati Considers Election Direction To Shift Because People Are Intimidated

Illustration of the General Election Commission (KPU). (Between)

The General Election Commission (KPU) ensures that the implementation of the 2024 General Election is in accordance with the rules and mandates stated in the applicable Law (UU).

This was in response to a statement by the General Chairperson of the PDI-P (PDIP) Megawati Soekarnoputri who felt that the direction of the election had shifted due to intimidation. Megawati's comments regarding the dynamics of the five-year contestation during the 51st Anniversary of the PDIP at the Party School, South Jakarta, Wednesday, January 10.

"We as election organizers are mandated to carry out elections in accordance with the relevant laws," said KPU Technical Division Coordinator Idham Holik after attending the 'Trial of Three PKPU Drafts' event in Jakarta, Thursday, January 11, which was confiscated by Antara.

Idham said the KPU had worked in accordance with the corridors and regulations in force during the election.

Article 22E in the 1945 Constitution (UUD) of the Republic of Indonesia, for example, stipulates the principles of holding elections that must be directly, in general, free, secret, honest, and fair every 5 years.

Idham emphasized that the KPU also always works upright (on the track) and prioritizes community participation.

Regarding Megawati's criticism, Idham considered this to be a form of freedom of opinion owned by each individual in Indonesia.

"Good democracy has great participation from the community. The KPU from the start invited all parties to create a participatory election," said Idham.

In the 51st Anniversary of the PDIP, PDIP Chairman Megawati Soekarnoputri said that the current election direction has shifted from what initially emphasized the interests of the people, now turning into a power struggle.

"That power is not lasting, it is what is above. Power will stop, whatever position it is. Recently, it seems that my election direction has shifted, there is people's anxiety due to intimidation," Megawati said in her speech.

Megawati assessed that election organizers such as the KPU and the Election Supervisory Body (Bawaslu) have not worked optimally because they do not emphasize the principles of free democracy and secrets even though there are many billboards on the road that echo democracy must be honest, fair, direct, and general.