Economic Observer: 2024 Election Moves Economy In North Sumatra

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MEDAN - Economist from the Islamic University of North Sumatra (UISU) Gunawan Benjamin said the 2024 General Election had moved the economy of North Sumatra.

"People's consumption and spending have increased. One of them can be seen from the increase in demand in culinary businesses or restaurants that can be three times higher than normal days," said Gunawan in Medan, North Sumatra, Sunday.

According to him, the increase in public consumption and spending could not be separated from the massive circulation of money during the 2024 General Election.

This is because the democratic party recruited many temporary workers, such as members of the Voting Organizing Group (KPPS) and supervisors of polling stations (PTPS) who received wages from the government.

Then, Gunawan added, the participants of the 2024 General Election also spent money to pay for the services of witnesses and volunteers.

It was not yet the movement of money during the campaign period, where the participants of the 2024 General Election actively printed props, for example billboards, banners and others.

"The budget issued by the government, including through the KPU and the contestants, has made the North Sumatra economy stretch," said Gunawan.

On Wednesday (14/2), North Sumatra together with all provinces in Indonesia held the 2024 General Election to elect the president and vice president, members of the DPR RI, DPD, provincial DPRD and district-city DPRD.

In the province of the thousands of Medan cities, there are 45,875 polling stations spread across 33 districts and cities, 455 sub-districts, 5,417 villages and 693 sub-districts.

The number of KPPS members for the 2024 General Election in North Sumatra reached 321,125 people and 45,875 polling stations supervisors.

The honorarium for the chairman of the KPPS from the government is Rp. 1,200,000 and members are Rp. 1,500,000.

The North Sumatra KPU has assigned 10,853,940 voters to be included in the final voter list (DPT) for the 2024 General Election, consisting of 5,360,844 men and 5,493,096 women.