Election Bill Is Speeded Up, DPR Promises Not To Rush For Better Democracy

PDIP Politician Aria Bima//ANTARA/Bagus Ahmad Rizaldi

Deputy Chairman of Commission II of the DPR RI Aria Bima stated that his party would immediately propose discussing the Draft Election Bill (RUU) to the leadership of the DPR RI.

This step follows the decision of the Constitutional Court (MK) which decided that national and local elections would no longer be held simultaneously.

This was conveyed by Aria Bima after a working meeting of Commission II of the DPR with the Ministry of Home Affairs, the General Elections Commission (KPU), the Election Supervisory Body (Bawaslu), and the Honorary Council of Election Organizers (DKPP) at the Parliament Complex, Senayan, Jakarta, Monday, July 14.

Aria assessed that the technical separation of elections was not the core of the problem. According to him, the most important thing is to formulate a big narrative that encourages the implementation of elections to be of higher quality and supported by quality political parties.

"So I hope that evaluations, including today we will see why there will be a re-voting or re-election, it will be a study material in formulating the laws that we will make," said Aria Bima.

He added that the formulation of the Election Bill must answer various fundamental questions about the roles, objectives, and actors involved in holding elections.

"Who is in what direction, for whose benefit, by whom. This is important in the process of drafting the law. So we will immediately propose to the leadership of the DPR to discuss it as soon as possible," continued the legislator from the PDI-P faction.

However, Aria emphasized that Commission II of the DPR would not be in a hurry to complete the discussion of the Election Bill. However, the urgency to start the discussion is considered quite high.

"The discussion must be done as soon as possible. If it is completed, there is no need to rush. Why as soon as possible? Because we want this process to be more transparent and involve the public. The spectrum is broad and the error in the preparation of election rules can have a big and long impact," he explained.

Aria also emphasized the importance of public involvement, including academics and civil society, in discussing the Election Bill. According to him, this involvement is the key to strengthening the national democratic system.

Furthermore, he said there were still many differences in views on democracy that developed in the community. Therefore, Commission II needs to be open to various inputs, including criticism of the direct electoral system.

"We don't need to assume that those who agree with the most democratic direct elections, or those that don't mean anti-democracy right away. There's no need for that," said Aria.

According to him, the practice of direct election also does not escape problems such as money politics and the dominance of capital power in the financing of candidates.

"In the end, there is control of regional assets by capital interests that occur. But on the other hand, through direct elections, good regional leaders were also born because of the participation of the people. This is the reason why discussions must be carried out immediately," he concluded.