Indonesia's Election Is The Largest And Most Complicated

Simulations of voting and vote counting in preparation for the 2024 General Election at the Bali KPU Office, Denpasar, Bali, Thursday 2 December 2021 (ANTARA)

JAKARTA - This year's general election (election) has challenges that are not easy. It can even be said to be the largest and most complicated election in the world.

The Special Staff of the Vice President (Wapres), R Gatot Prio Utomo, said that the indications of the Indonesian election as the largest and most complicated could be seen from several dimensions, both time, number of voters, and wide distribution of voters.

"At one time simultaneously elect the president/vice president, members of the Regional Representative Council, members of the DPRD both at the provincial and district/city levels," he said, Friday, January 19.

According to him, this election was followed by a very large number of voters. Also, the distribution of voters in the vast area of the archipelago with very diverse demographics, both in terms of ethnicity, culture, education level, and economic conditions.

"The complexity of this situation, if it is not understood and handled wisely, has the potential to pose risks to our national cohesivity," explained Gatot.

Gatot hopes that the quality of the 2024 General Election must be improved so that the trillions of budgets issued are able to produce dignified, strongly legitimized, and inclusive leadership at all levels.

"In order to produce dignified leadership, the election must be dignified. In order for elections to be dignified, the principles of fairness must be a guide for all stakeholders," he explained.

Admittedly, one of the things that can injure the principle of fairness is conflict of interest. It is undeniable that currently many components of the nation are involved in winning teams, including state officials who are the candidate pair success team.

"People often find it difficult to distinguish the actions of state officials, whether in their capacity as the bearer of the mandate of office or as a candidate pairing team, so it is not surprising that there are many suspicions or perceptions regarding neutrality," he explained.

However, he believes that election organizers, namely KPU and Bawaslu, will become neutral parties, uphold ethics, and be able to produce dignified elections.

Not to forget, continued Gatot, the commitment of the TNI and Polri in the history of elections has been tested. The commitment and loyalty of the TNI and Polri to the Republic of Indonesia is far above personal and group interests.

Regarding the potential for polarization and post-election conflicts, Prio advised the KPU and Bawaslu to map out all the risks that could occur and formulate their mitigation plans effectively. This is to become sufficient anticipatory power if that risk really occurs.

"For this, it is necessary to involve all components of society, including the media in this mitigation process, so that the formulation of mitigation can be carried out in the field," he explained.