Labor Party Will Hold Massive Demonstrations At KPU And DPR RI On August 25-27

The President of the Labor Party, Said Iqbal, during a demonstration in front of the DPR RI building (photo: x @EXCOPARTAIBURUH)

Jakarta President of the Labor Party, Said Iqbal, announced that the Labor Party and other labor elements will hold a massive demonstration which will take place on August 25-27 in front of the General Elections Commission (KPU) Office and the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR). This action will be carried out simultaneously in various KPU and DPRD offices throughout Indonesia.

"There is a follow-up action, starting from August 25 to 27. Actions will be carried out simultaneously with the escalation getting bigger. Involving all elements of the Labor Party, labor union, labor party wing, and society throughout Indonesia at the central KPU and regional KPU offices. Of course in government offices and DPRD in the regions, including the DPR RI," Said Iqbal said when confirmed in Jakarta, Saturday, August 24.

This action aims to demand that the KPU immediately issue regulations related to regional elections, as a form of follow-up to the decision of the Constitutional Court (MK) which canceled the revision of the Pilkada Law by the DPR RI. Said Iqbal emphasized that the KPU had no binding obligation to consult before issuing the regulation.

"The demand is only one, the KPU has no binding obligation to consult. There has been a press conference, so the KPU regulations have been made. The Labor Party's attitude gives the KPU a deadline no later than tomorrow (August 25) to issue a new regulation that contains provisions regarding regional elections in accordance with the decision of the Constitutional Court 60/PUU-XXII/2024," said Said.

Plans For Action Escalation

Said Iqbal estimates that the action on Sunday, August 25, will be followed by about a thousand people. However, he claims that actions in the regions could be bigger because they are carried out on holidays, while a larger escalation will occur on Mondays and Tuesdays.

"For Sunday, there may be about a thousand people. In the regions may vary, maybe even bigger ones, because it's a holiday. We have to consolidate from tonight. But for Monday, Tuesday, the escalation is definitely bigger, tens of thousands of people will storm the KPU office," said Said.

In addition, Said Iqbal also respectfully asked the Police to give freedom to the mass of action and students in conducting demonstrations. According to him, various elements of society are fighting for the enforcement of the constitution and democracy in Indonesia.

On Thursday, August 22, a number of elements of society, including workers, the Labor Party, to students, took part in the action in front of the DPR/MPR RI Building. In this action, the Labor Party urged the Indonesian House of Representatives not to fight and change the Constitutional Court's decision Number 60/PUU/XII/2024 and 70/PUU-XXII/2024. The action was continued on Friday, August 23, where the masses held a joint prayer during the day and held a demonstration in front of the Indonesian KPU office in the afternoon.

KPU Statement

Responding to these demands, the Chairman of the Indonesian KPU Mochammad Afifuddin emphasized that the Constitutional Court's decision regarding regional elections, including the age requirements for regional head candidates and the nomination threshold, will continue to be guided until the candidate pair (paslon) is determined.

"Continue to be guided, until the determination of the candidate pair," said Afifuddin during a press conference at the Indonesian KPU Office, Jakarta, Thursday, August 22 evening. This was conveyed to dismiss the assumption that the Constitutional Court's decision was only guided during the registration of candidates.

The action, which will be held on August 25-27, is expected to put pressure on the KPU and DPR RI to immediately follow up on the Constitutional Court's decision and ensure the implementation of regional elections in accordance with the constitution.