KPU Opens The Possibility Of Re-Pilkada At The End Of 2025 If Empty Box Wins

KPU building in Central Jakarta. (Between)

JAKARTA - The General Election Commission (KPU) of the Republic of Indonesia opens the option to hold a re-election at the end of 2025 if many areas with single candidate participants win empty boxes in the 2024 Pilkada.

"In principle, if the KPU needs to prepare the pilkada stage, it is theoretical for 9 months. Yes, right, the direction may not be much different, it may still be towards the end of 2025. That's an option," said RI KPU member August Mellaz when met by media crews at the KPU RI Office, Jakarta, Friday 6 September, confiscated by Antara.

However, according to him, this option still depends on the results of the hearing (RDP) with Commission II of the DPR RI and the government.

The KPU is scheduled to attend the RDP to discuss the phenomenon of empty boxes in the 2024 Simultaneous Pilkada on September 10, 2024.

Meanwhile, when asked about the sustainability of the 2029 Simultaneous Regional Head Elections if the regional elections are held again next year, Mellaz explained that currently the legal instruments are still simultaneous elections.

"If now 27 November as long as the law does not change, yes, it means that we will calculate again until the term of office ends and then the elections are held. That's normal, unless there is a policy that changes it," he said.

He also did not rule out the possibility that the available instruments could lead to different interpretations. Therefore, the interpretation must be emphasized to be just one interpretation.

"Is it following the cycle of the term of office, so that later the areas that are then empty boxes in the quotes that win are then filled with officials (Pj) right," said Mellaz.

Previously, Wednesday, September 4, the Chairman of the Indonesian KPU, Mochammad Afifuddin, said that the KPU's consideration in carrying out the re- Pilkada was so that the continuation of the upcoming Pilkada could remain simultaneously and not be interspersed with the inauguration of the Acting Head. on the sidelines of the five-year leadership of the regional head.

"One of the goals of this regional election is the elected regional head. If the logic is that the next five-year regional elections are not like yesterday's corrugated regional elections, if they are filled with Pj. for five years, they will keep changing," he said.

"But this is of course from what we think and we understand from the regulations. That's why we need to communicate, consult, in the sense of finding the most suitable point of understanding with all parties," Afif continued.

The Indonesian KPU noted that there are 41 regions that only have one candidate for regional head or sole candidate in the 2024 Simultaneous Regional Head Election based on data as of Wednesday, September 4 at 23.59 WIB.

The 41 regions consist of one province, 35 districts, and five cities. Based on data from the KPU, Thursday, there were 41 regions with only one candidate who previously had 43 regions.

The following are areas with only candidates in the 2024 Pilkada:

Provincial:- West Papua

Aceh Regency/City-North Aceh-North Aceh Taming

North Sumatra- Central Tapanuli- Asahan- Pakpak Bharat- Serdang Bergagai-North Labuhanbatu-North Nias

West Sumatra- Dharmasraya

Jambi- Batanghari

South Sumatra- Ogan Ilir- Empat Lawang

Bengkulu-North Bengkulu

Lampung- West Lampung- East Lampung-West Tulang Bawang

Bangka Belitung Islands - Bangka- South Bangka- Pangkal Pinang City

Riau Islands- Bintan

West Java-Ciaamis

Central Java- Banyumas- Sukoharjo-Brebes

East Java- Trenggalek-Ngawi- Gresik- Pasuruan City- Surabaya City

West Kalimantan- Bengkayang

South Kalimantan- Tanah Bumbu- Balangan

East Kalimantan- Samarinda City

North Kalimantan- Malinau- Tarakan City

South Sulawesi-Maros

Southeast Sulawesi- West Muna

West Sulawesi-Pandangkayu

West Papua- Manokwari- Kaimana