KPU Chair: Campaigns In Government Education Places Must Pocket Permits

Chairman of the Indonesian KPU Hasyim Asy'ari at the PBNU Office, Jakarta, Friday (13/10/2023). (ANTARA/Narda Margaretha Sinambela)

Chairman of the Indonesian General Elections Commission (KPU) Hasyim Asy'ari revealed that the campaign at government educational places and facilities could be carried out on condition that there must be a permit by the person in charge of the government's education and facilities. "Companies in places of worship, places of education, and government facilities are basically prohibited in the Election Law. However, it can be done on condition that there must be a permit for the person in charge of the government's education and facilities," said Hasyim at the PBNU Office, Jakarta, as reported by Antara, Friday, October 13. According to him, government educational places and facilities have the authority to allow campaigns. This will be a consideration of the person in charge of the place to give permission or not. "It is entirely the responsibility of the government's place of education and facilities," he said. The KPU has issued KPU Regulation Number 15 of 2023 concerning Campaigns. The regulation emphasizes to election participants so that before the campaign period they do not carry out the campaign first. In addition, he said, during the campaign, he was required to give notifications to the police, KPU, and Bawaslu, both the place and time for campaign implementation. As for the Constitutional Court Decision Number 65 of 2023, it is to discuss whether it is allowed to campaign in places of education and government institutions provided that they do not use the attributes of political parties.

The rules of campaigning in places of education and government institutions are equally prohibited from using party attributes, election participants have received permission from the person in charge of educational institutions or the government, and campaigns are only allowed on Saturdays and Sundays.