The Necessary Value Of The Elected Caleg Substitution Can Have Transactional Stalls

Illustration of a number of political parties participating in the general election during the campaign stage. (Between)

JAKARTA - The Board of Trustees for Elections and Democracy (Perludem) Titi Anggraini assessed that the change of legislative candidates was elected to distort people's sovereignty because it was not in line with the open proportional electoral system where the candidates with the most votes were entitled to office.

"The phenomenon of changing elected candidates before the inauguration is becoming increasingly widespread because it is considered an easier way to replace someone than changing after the inauguration is carried out," Titi said when contacted, Friday, September 13, as quoted by Antara.

He explained that it could not be separated because the KPU tended to leave it to the party because it was considered an internal party problem.

This is different from PAW after taking office, which provides space for members of the DPR to take legal action until a decision is issued with permanent legal force.

According to him, the party's actions to fire or replace legislative candidates because internal problems tend not to be transparent and accountable.

Thus, vulnerable to become arbitrary and transactional-flavoured actions.

He said that usually the elected female candidates who are the most disadvantaged because if they experience unilateral replacement, they tend to just follow because they don't want to make a fuss.

In fact, for the sake of affirmation, if the female candidate is replaced, the substitute must also be filled by a female candidate.

Furthermore, Titi said the phenomenon also indicates the problem of regeneration and recruitment by political parties where parties are not able to maintain solidity and internal consolidation between candidates.

"The party is also not ready for the results of open competitions so that it intervenes in the election of legislative candidates according to the tastes of party elites," he said.

Therefore, the KPU should not only clarify to parties and legislative candidates but also provide space for those who take legal action not to be immediately replaced based on party requests.

Nevertheless, he continued, the KPU must wait for the legal process to be completed and with permanent legal force. This is in order to respect the voices and choices of the people so that they are not easily hijacked by the interests of the party.

Previously, Wednesday, September 11, member of the Indonesian KPU Idham Holik confirmed that his institution received letters from several political parties to replace elected legislative candidates (caleg).

"Regarding this, we received several letters from the leadership of political parties," said Idham when contacted from Jakarta, Wednesday, September 11.

The KPU will conduct a study of the letter. If it meets the provisions of the legislation, the KPU will clarify whether the political party submitted the letter or the elected candidate who was replaced or dismissed.

According to Idham, this needs to be done as stipulated in Article 32 paragraph (1) and Article 33 of Law Number 2 of 2011 which explains that if members of political parties who are dismissed file a lawsuit to the district court, the KPU must wait for the completion of the reading of the lawsuit's decision.