Tito Karnavian Orders Regional Heads To Disburse NPHD For The 2020 Simultaneous Regional Elections

Minister of Home Affairs Tito Karnavian with the Governor of DKI Jakarta, Anies Baswedan (Photo: Ministry of Home Affairs)

JAKARTA - Minister of Home Affairs (Mendagri) Tito Karnavian ordered regional heads in 270 regions to immediately withdraw the Regional Grant Agreement (NPHD) for the 2020 Pilkada.

"Please, colleagues, regional heads, proposals or NPHDs that have been agreed upon will be disbursed immediately. Whatever is disbursed to the organizers of the KPU and Regional Bawaslu so that they really have breath, have the fiscal space to continue the stages planned for June 15," Tito said in a statement. video conference regarding the preparation for the 2020 simultaneous regional elections, Friday, June 5.

Tito reminded that the implementation of the pilkada and the disbursement of the script was not complicated by transactional politics. This is because, even though it is only on a local scale, the 2020 Pilkada in 270 regions is the largest simultaneous regional election ever.

"Do not let there be transactional, political interests towards state administrators from fellow regional heads. Please, once again, politics is yes, local politics. But if it is for national interests, I think we have to share the same thoughts," he said.

The former National Police Chief said the implementation of the pending election stages would be continued on June 15. Meanwhile, the implementation of the voting was held on December 9.

Therefore, Tito asked the KPU as the election organizer to consider the duration of the campaign so that other pilkada stages could also be advanced.

In addition, he considered, the campaign time cut could be used for socialization and updating of the data used in the elections.

Previously, the Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs (Menko Polhukam) Mahfud MD had said that there would be no postponement of the 2020 Pilkada. The government still wants this election to run this year despite the COVID-19 outbreak.

"The government wants to ensure that the Pilkada will not be shifted from 2020. Pilkada will still be held in December 2020," said Mahfud in a written statement.

Complementing Mahfud, Minister of Home Affairs Tito then explained the reasons for the government not wanting to postpone the regional elections. He said, even if it was postponed to 2021, it would not mean that the outbreak of COVID-19 would be over. Moreover, until now not a single expert has been able to predict when this pagebluk will end.

"If the speculation for next year that the Covid-19 is not necessarily finished, why is it postponed next year. If you see, all 60 countries in the world are on schedule. America, this November, will carry out bigger elections than us. All are on schedule. Germany, France, are also implementing it. , "he said.

Moreover, according to Tito, these regional heads have time or limits. Even if the regional elections are postponed, these officials will be replaced by executors who are deemed to have limited authority.

So, the government then decided to continue this political contestation. He has conveyed to a number of regional heads that the 2020 Pilkada budget for regional KPUD and Bawaslu can be immediately disbursed to prepare a number of health protocols. Including, preparing PPE for field officers.