Bawaslu Chairman Says Option To Postpone 2024 Simultaneous Pilkada Is Only Closed Discussion

JAKARTA - Chairman of the Election Supervisory Body (Bawaslu) Rahmat Bagja said the proposal regarding the option of postponing the 2024 Simultaneous Regional Elections was only a discussion carried out in a closed meeting forum.

"For that matter, it was discussed behind closed doors, so I cannot comment because it should have been a closed meeting," said Bagja to journalists reported by ANTARA, Friday, July 14.

He said this matter was only a discussion, so it was not a conclusion from the Coordination Meeting forum of State Ministries and Institutions held by the Presidential Staff Office (KSP) with the theme "Potential and Current Situation of Election Vulnerability and the National Strategy for Mitigating It" in Jakarta, Wednesday (12/7).

Furthermore, Bagja explained he would not bring this proposal to be discussed with Commission II of the DPR.

Because determining the schedule for the 2024 Simultaneous Regional Elections is not the authority of Bawaslu as the organizer of the elections, but rather the authority of the government and the DPR.

"No (discussed with Commission II).

Bagja also denied the accusation that the proposal submitted in a closed forum caused uproar in the community.

"No, don't make a scene," he added.

Previously, in the coordination meeting at the KSP office, Bagja submitted a proposal to discuss options for postponing the implementation of the 2024 Simultaneous Regional Elections because the stages of implementation coincide with the stages of the 2024 Election. Apart from that, there is also the potential for disruption to security and order.

"We are actually worried that the 2024 election (Pilkada) will be due to the November 2024 vote, which will be the inauguration of a new president in October 2024, of course with ministers and officials who may change. Therefore, we propose that we should discuss the option of postponing the election (pilkada) because this is the first time," he explained.

Bagja said that if there is a security disturbance in an area, the police officers may face difficulties in getting assistance from troops in other areas who are also holding local elections.

"If previously, for example, during the regional elections in Makassar, there were security disturbances, then there could be deployments from the surrounding police or police from other provinces. For the 2024 Pilkada, of course, it will be difficult because every region is on standby to hold a similar election," said Bagja.

Responding to this, Deputy IV of the Office of the Presidential Staff (KSP) Juri Ardiantoro emphasized that the Government will continue to hold the Simultaneous Regional Elections on November 27, 2024.

"The government remains in accordance with the law's scenario that regional elections are held in November 2024," said Juri, who is also a former member of the General Elections Commission (KPU).