Bawaslu Asks Political Parties In Pangkalpinang And Bangka Evaluation After The Win Of The Blank Box In The Pilkada

Illustration of Bawaslu. (Antanews)

JAKARTA - Member of the Indonesian General Election Supervisory Agency (Bawaslu) Lolly Suhenty said the victory of the empty box in the Bangka Regional Head Election and the Pangkalpinang City Regional Head Election was an evaluation of the performance and strategy of political parties (political parties) in the two regions.

"In this context, of course, this political party is a reflection. How can it be defeated by an empty pool," said Lolly when met in Bintan, Riau Islands, quoted on Wednesday, December 4, quoted by Antara.

In addition, Lolly is also of the view that winning empty boxes is a political phenomenon that must be respected.

"If the win of an empty pool means it's a political phenomenon that exists in the area and it must be respected," said Lolly.

According to the rules, areas won by empty boxes must carry out another election no later than 1 year after the 2024 Simultaneous Pilkada.

Lolly said the phenomenon of winning empty boxes was an important moment for learning in the democratic process.

"He must have prepared for the next election preparations immediately. Because it must be repeated in the next year. This means that September 2025 should happen again in which an empty pool is won," he said.

Evaluation of this phenomenon is expected to strengthen public confidence in the political system and encourage parties to get closer to the community.

Bawaslu also hopes that this phenomenon can be a turning point for all parties to ensure that future elections run better and are inclusive.

The General Election Commission (KPU) of the Republic of Indonesia provides two options regarding the re-election stage as a result of the victory of the winless box in the 2024 Simultaneous Regional Elections.

Chairman of the Indonesian KPU Mochammad Afifuddin said that his institution prepared the two options because until Wednesday afternoon there was information that there were two areas whose empty boxes won the 2024 Pilkada and considered Article 54D of Law Number 10 of 2016 concerning the Election of Governor, Regent, and Mayor (UU Pilkada).

"First, the choice of re-voting day on September 24, 2025 and the other on August 24, 2025," Afif said in a hearing with Commission II of the DPR RI at the Parliament Complex, Senayan, Jakarta, Wednesday, December 4.