A Number Of Options For Implementing The 2020 Pilkada Due To The COVID-19 Pandemic

Illustrations (Irfan Meidianto / VOI)

JAKARTA - The General Election Commission (KPU) has not decided to postpone the 2020 Pilkada. The KPU has just decided to postpone a number of pilkada stages, when the emergency situation for the COVID-19 virus ends on May 29.

However, the KPU is currently drafting several options related to the implementation of the regional elections which will be held on September 23 in 270 regions.

KPU commissioner Pramono Ubaid Tanthowi said the first option is for the KPU to compress the remaining stages of the 2020 Pilkada. Second, the KPU will postpone all remaining stages of the 2020 Pilkada which resulted in the postponement of the voting day.

"We hope that we can convey these options in writing next week, to be discussed in a consultation meeting with the government and Commission II of the DPR RI," Pramono said when confirmed, Monday, March 23.

However, postponement of regional elections cannot be done just like that. This is because all stages of the pilkada refer to the rules of Law Number 10 of 2016 (Pilkada Law).

When the voting day is postponed, the government and the DPR must revise the Pilkada Law, with all the discussions at the plenary session. Or, there needs to be a Government Regulation in Lieu of a Law (Perppu) to confirm the change.

"A stronger legal basis is needed, either revision of the Law or Perppu. This is because the provision that the 2020 Pilkada D-day falls in September 2020 is regulated in Law 10/2016. Namely in Article 201 paragraph (6)," Pramono said.

Furthermore, regarding the revision of the Law and the Perppu, only the government and the DPR have the authority. The KPU, said Pramono, was only entitled to propose viable options.

"Later, when the government and the DPR have decided, the KPU will translate in the revised KPU Regulation on Stages, Programs and Schedules," he concluded.