Re-Election In Sabu Raijua Is Affected By The East Nusa Tenggara Disaster, The General Election Commission Seeks New Polling Station Locations

KPU / Irfan Meidianto (VOI)

JAKARTA - The General Election Commission (KPU) is preparing to hold a special re-voting (PSU) for Sabu Raijua Regency due to the disqualification of the elected regent in the 2020 Regional Head Election (Pilkada).

Sabu Raijua Regency is one of the areas affected by the flood disaster in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) some time ago.

KPU commissioner I Dewa Raka Sandi said that currently the KPU ranks were mapping the affected areas and determining the location of new polling stations (TPS).

"We are currently mapping the areas affected by the disaster, especially the presence of voters in the area, will result in TPS not being established in their original places and voters being evacuated in certain places where it is no longer possible to vote at the original TPS", Dewa told reporters on Monday. , April 19.

The Indonesian KPU also asked the NTT Provincial KPU and the Sabu Raijua Regency KPU to carry out socialization and coordination meetings with relevant stakeholders to determine the election date.

"We asked the KPU of Sabu Raijua Regency to determine the date of the PSU within 60 working days according to the Constitutional Court's decision and then set the date for the PSU in the KPU Decree of Sabu Raijua Regency", he said.

Previously, the Constitutional Court (MK) ordered the KPU to hold a re-vote (PSU) due to violations committed by the elected regent of Sabu Raijua, Orient Patriot Riwu Kore.

In the 2020 Pilkada, Orient was appointed as the elected regent because he won the most votes. Before being inaugurated, it turned out that Orient was still a foreign citizen, namely the United States.

The Constitutional Court proved that Orient Riwu Kore was dishonest regarding his citizenship status. He was dishonest with the consulate general of the Republic of Indonesia in Los Angeles when he asked for a Travel Letter like a Passport (SPLP) which he would use to apply for an Indonesian passport valid from 2019 to 2024.

In fact, when he applied for the Indonesian passport, he already held a United States passport valid from 2017 to 2027. Dishonesty continued when he registered as a regional head candidate for the 2020 Pilkada, in September 2020.

Based on these facts, the Constitutional Court decided to disqualify Orient Riwu Kore and his deputy regent candidates and ordered a re-vote at all polling stations in Sabu Raijua Regency, NTT.