Needdem Calls The Issue Of Postponing The 2027 Election As Counterproductive, Causing Political Chaos

Illustration (Unsplash)

JAKARTA - The Board of Trustees of the Association for Elections and Democracy (Perludem) Titi Anggaraini asked all parties to resolve the issue of the discourse on postponing the 2024 General Election to 2027.

According to Titi, the issue of simultaneous elections being postponed to 2027 is something that is not compatible with efforts to strengthen democracy. In fact, this can lead to political upheaval.

"The issue of postponing elections is an issue that is counterproductive to our efforts to strengthen democracy. If we really want to strengthen our democracy and deal with the pandemic better, we should avoid issues that can trigger public resistance and political controversy and commotion," Titi said on Titi's Youtube show. Anggraini, quoted by VOI on Friday, August 20.

Titi said that the discourse on delaying the simultaneous election schedule had indeed been raised when the government and the DPR planned to revise Law Number 7 of 2017 concerning General Elections and Law Number 10 of 2016 concerning Regional Head Elections last year.

However, the draft Election Law and Regional Head Elections were revoked from the priority of the national legislation in 2021. So, it is impossible to postpone simultaneous elections.

Moreover, he said, Article 7 of the 1945 Constitution of the Republic of Indonesia mandates that the President and Vice President hold office for five years and thereafter can be re-elected in the same office for only one term.

Therefore, it is not possible to postpone the presidential and vice presidential elections without constitutional amendments in Article 7 of the 1945 Constitution of the Republic of Indonesia. Then, it is not possible to separate the holding of the presidential election from the election of members of the DPR and DPD.

"This is if the election is postponed to 2027, it is not impossible that residents can take to the streets because they are not satisfied. Even though our pandemic must be our priority, how conduciveness is and so on," said Titi.

"So, it is better for our constitutional agenda, our electoral democracy. Moreover, it has been mentioned in Article 7 very firmly, we should obey the 5-year presidential term. Elections will still be in 2024 and there is no need to think about amending the constitution with the aim of delaying or extend the periodization," he explained.

KPU denied the issue of delay

Rumors developed on social media about the possibility of the simultaneous local elections in 2024 being postponed to 2027. However, this was denied by the General Elections Commission (KPU).

Warganet highlighted the statement by KPU chairman Ilham Saputra who said there was a discourse on changing Law Number 7 of 2017 concerning General Elections and Law Number 10 of 2016 concerning Regional Elections. The possibility of the discourse on changing the Election Law which changes the election schedule to 2027 is carried out by taking into account the pandemic conditions.

KPU member I Dewa Raka Sandi also clarified. Dewa said that this statement was made a year ago, not on June 23, 2020. At that time, the DPR and the government were indeed rolling out a discourse on the revision of the Election Law and the Pilkada Law. Until finally, the revision of the law was not carried out.

"Two days later, Ilham Saputra has clarified to the mass media that the general election according to Law Number 7 of 2017 will be held in 2024," Dewa told reporters, Tuesday, August 17.