Minister Of Home Affairs: Acting Regional Head Participates In Regional Head Elections Must Resign

Minister of Home Affairs, Tito Karnavian. BETWEEN/Interior Ministry Information Centers

JAKARTA - Minister of Home Affairs (Mendagri) Tito Karnavian emphasized that regional heads must resign from their positions if they want to take part in the regional head elections (pilkada) held on November 27, 2024.

"The acting regional head must resign five months before the implementation of the regional elections, if he wants to take part in the regional elections," said Tito Karnavian at a coordination meeting through a video conference (zoom meeting) reported by ANTARA, Thursday, March 28.

The coordination meeting through video conferences was held with regional heads throughout Indonesia, including the Acting (Pj) Regent of North Penanam Paser Makmur Marbun in East Kalimantan Province.

"The guardians of the regional head are appointed by the central government as fillers of vacancies for regional leaders," explained the Minister of Home Affairs, not using positions for practical politics.

"All regional heads must be neutral in the implementation of regional elections," he said.

The neutrality of regional head officials in regional elections is regulated by Law Number 10 of 2016 concerning the second amendment to Law Number 1 of 2014 concerning the election of Governor, Regent, Mayor, to Law stipulated on July 1, 2016.

In article 7 paragraph (2) letter q, candidates for governor and deputy governor, candidates for regent and deputy regent, as well as candidates for mayor and deputy mayor must meet the requirements.

The requirement is stated in paragraph (1). according to the Minister of Home Affairs, it must meet the following requirements as follows from letter q: not having the status of acting governor, acting regent and acting mayor.

The provisions for the regulation, he continued, are to prevent the acting governor, acting regent, and acting mayor from resigning to nominate as governor, deputy governor, regent, deputy regent, mayor or deputy mayor.

A working meeting was held by the Ministry of Home Affairs (Kemendagri) to optimize the performance of acting governors, acting regents and acting mayors, regarding strategic issues involving the implementation of regional elections, as well as governance of local government administration.

"The acting regional head is threatened with sanctions that advance to fight in the simultaneous regional elections," said Tito Karnavian.