KPU Claims The Election System In Indonesia Is Better Than In The US

Illustration of the 2024 General Election

JAKARTA - Member of the Indonesian General Elections Commission (KPU) Idham Holik considers that the general election system (elections) in the Republic of Indonesia (RI) is better than the United States (US).

"If, for example, we compare the Indonesian electoral system and the electoral system in the United States, I personally as an Indonesian citizen (WNI) think that our system is better," said Idham during an exclusive interview with ANTARA at Wisma Antara B, Cikini, Jakarta, quoted by ANTARA, Tuesday 30 January.

He admitted that he had met a colleague from a university in Uncle Sam's country and gave examples of comparative studies or comparisons to the presidential and vice presidential election system.

The US president was not directly elected by the public, but by an institution known as an electoral college or a voter institution.

When US citizens come to the polling station, they actually choose the people who will sit on the electoral college. The main task of electoral college members is to elect the president and vice president.

They work every four years, which is a few weeks after voting by people in the state. That's when they carry out their duties.

"Later on every 4 years, especially on January 20, the electoral election will choose the presidential candidate," he explained.

Meanwhile, Indonesia adheres to the "LUBER JOURDIL" principle which stands for "Langsung, General, Free, Secret, Honest and Fair". "Immediately" means that voters are required to vote directly and cannot be represented.

"But in Indonesia voters can vote directly, they can determine who their respective presidential candidates are. This is extraordinary in my opinion," said Idham.

From that point of view, he admitted that he was proud of the electoral system in Indonesia compared to the US. Idham did not deny that Indonesia was the third largest democracy, but the electoral system was still the best.

"We must have the pride of being Indonesian citizens, not inferior. This nation, the great nation and the talk of Indonesian democracy, are categorized as stable compared to other countries," he said.

He also highlighted a lot of research on the extraordinary decline in democracy in the US, such as democratic backsliding, how democracies die and so on. This shows there is a big problem in the country.

Therefore, he is proud of Indonesia, because he always improves himself. Idham considered it natural if there were criticisms that continued to be sent as part of democratic practices.

"What is clear is that in the 2024 election, this will determine the future of the nation and state. There is no other word except to participate," said Idham.

Previously, the Indonesian KPU announced that there were 18 participants in the 2024 General Election, namely (according to the serial number) of the National Awakening Party (PKB), Gerindra Party, PDI Perjuangan, Golkar Party, NasDem Party, Labor Party, and the Gelora Indonesia Party.

Next, Partai Keadilan Sejahtera (PKS), Partai Kebangkitan Nusantara (PKN), Partai Hanura, Partai Garuda, Partai Amanat Nasional (PAN), Partai Bulan Bintang (PBB), Partai Demokrat, Partai Solidaritas Indonesia (PSI), Partai Perindo, Partai Persatuan Pembangunan (PPP), and Partai Ummat.

In addition, the election for legislative members (pileg) was also attended by six local political parties, namely the Aceh Nanggroe Party, the Atjeh Beusaboh Tha'at and Taqwa Generation Party, the Aceh Darul Party, the Aceh Party, the Aceh Prosperous Justice Party, and the Aceh People's Independent Solidity Party.

The legislative elections, including the DPD RI Member Election, simultaneously with the 2024 Presidential and Vice Presidential Elections on February 14, 2024.

The Indonesian KPU has also determined the 2024 Presidential and Vice Presidential Election participants, namely the Anies Baswedan-Muhaimin Iskandar pair number 1, Prabowo Subianto-Gibran Rakabuming Raka number 2, and Ganjar Pranowo-Mahfud Md. serial number 3.