Election Budget Continues To Rise, Members Of The DPR F-PKB Encourage A Complete Evaluation Of The Political System

JAKARTA - Member of Commission II of the DPR from the PKB faction Indrajaya encourages a thorough evaluation of the Indonesian political system. The reason is, the general election budget (Pemilu) continues to increase from year to year.

This was conveyed by Indrajaya in response to President Prabowo's proposal for regional head elections to be carried out through the DPRD because of the expensive costs.

"Pilkada is expensive, Legislative and Presidential Elections are also expensive, besides that the electoral system is also njlimet (complex, red)," said Indrajaya, Monday, December 16.

According to Indrajaya, the complexity of the electoral system stems from various regulations. There is an Election Law to elect candidates for members of the DPR, DPD, and DPRD using a proportional system for the list of open candidates and the Pilkada Law specifically for the implementation of the direct election for governor, regent, mayor and deputy by the people.

"This is the first complexity, both elections, but it must be regulated by a different law, different systems and budgets, even though the organizers are the same," he said.

The South Papua electoral district legislator is also concerned about the large budget for the 2024 General Election. However, he did not deny that the democratic party needed money.

"That is the reason PKB is the first to propose the gubernatorial election through the DPRD," he said.

For information, the 2024 Pilkada costs a budget of IDR 37.4 trillion, which comes from 40 percent of the APBD and 60 percent of the APBN. Meanwhile, the Pilleg and Presidential Election budget is IDR 71.3 trillion. The funds do not include additional PSU costs for regional elections in 287 polling stations spread across 20 provinces.

The budget also does not include the cost of the re-cash, because the victory of the empty box in Bangka Regency and Pangkalpinang City. This re-cash will be held on August 27, 2025, because it is waiting for the regional grant agreement (NPHD).

As of Monday, December 16, there were 275 lawsuits resulting from the Pilkada to the Constitutional Court (MK) which very likely there will be re-elections or PSUs in many polling stations. If this happens, it is certain that the state will again spend hundreds of billions of people's money.

"Luckily, the 2024 presidential election is one round, if it is two rounds, the state must disburse an additional APBN of IDR 38.2 trillion," said Indrajaya.

Indrajaya highlighted the swelling of the five-year election budget. Where the 2004 election sucked up a budget of IDR 13.5 trillion, in the 2009 election it rose to IDR 47.9 trillion, in the 2014 election it again increased by IDR 21.7 trillion, the 2019 election IDR 24.8 trillion, and finally the 2024 election reached IDR 71.3 trillion.

"This is also the reason PKB encourages BPK to conduct a comprehensive audit of election funds so as not to cause syakwasangka," he explained.

Therefore, according to Indrajaya, evaluation of the electoral system needs to be carried out. In addition to the effectiveness of the implementation, he said, evaluation is also for budget efficiency for the same amount of interest in developing the nation.

"If the election budget is saved, then the fulfillment of budget needs such as for the Free Nutrition Food Program worth IDR 71 trillion for 2025 and additional budget for the welfare of ASN and Non-ASN teachers which reaches IDR 81.6 trillion in the 2025 State Budget will be lighter," concluded Indrajaya.