DPR Chair Reminds Elections To Be Held According To Democratic Principles

JAKARTA - The chairman of the House of Representatives, Puan Maharani, reminded that the implementation of the 2024 General Election, which begins on June 14, 2022, must be in accordance with democratic principles.

"On the other hand, it is like a double-edged sword, holding elections that are not in accordance with democratic principles can also boomerang for the life of the nation and state," said Puan in Jakarta as reported by Antara, Tuesday, June 14.

Puan said that the founding fathers of the nation once reminded this nation of the dangers of elections that are not in accordance with democratic principles, and instead become a platform for democracy that can break the unity of the Indonesian nation.

In 1955, said Puan, Indonesia's first president Ir. Soekarno once gave a message to this nation about the general election not to be a place for party struggles that could divide the Indonesian nation.

These days, continued Puan, the atmosphere of the 2024 General Election has approached the concerns that Bung Karno had conveyed. Discussions in the public sphere about the dynamics leading to the 2024 General Election have been and are heavily colored by arguments that lead to unhealthy polarization among the nation's children.

Therefore, the chairman of the DPR appealed to all elements of the nation to restore the nature and identity of the election as an instrument of democracy oriented towards national unity and not the other way around.

Puan emphasized that the election is an arena for competition, not a battle among the nation's children. He likened the legislative election as the time to determine "class leader", "class-1 deputy chairman", "class-2 deputy chairman", and so on in the parliament building.

Furthermore, the chairmen and vice-chairpersons of this class will become a unit and work together to discuss various matters and decide what is best for the nation and state.

"I believe that there is no problem that cannot be discussed as long as the spirit of deliberation is based on the spirit of Indonesian unity and integrity," he said.

On the other hand, he continued, if the spirit of the election is brought to a battle that is oriented towards harming competitors, the election will become an arena of unhealthy competition which in the end could lead to the disintegration of the nation.

"Through the election, let us hear the voices, hopes and dreams of the Indonesian people about what they want the state to realize for the welfare of its people's lives," said Puan.