politic

The DPR Recommends That The National And Local Elections Be Conducted Separately

Deputy Chairman of Commission II of the Indonesian House of Representatives, Zulfikar Arse Sadikin, has proposed a separation of the timelines for national and local elections to mitigate the negative repercussions associated with direct regional elections.

"We must separate them; they should not be combined again. There is a Constitutional Court ruling that offers six models for synchronizing elections that can be considered," Zulfikar stated in an official announcement on Monday, December 16, 2024. He suggested that local elections and national elections could be held separately with a one-year interval. Zulfikar emphasized that this mechanism is permissible under the provisions of the Constitutional Court.

This statement was made in response to President Prabowo's discourse on having regional leaders elected by the Regional People's Representative Council (DPRD). According to the Golkar Party politician, the focus of the discussion should not solely be on identifying the most appropriate electoral model but also on deepening democracy among political actors.

"Political parties and candidates must also evolve and encourage voters to change. We are entrusted with the responsibility of political education," he remarked. Zulfikar believes that local elections should continue to be conducted directly by the people, as is currently the case, but with necessary adjustments to prevent negative outcomes.

In addition to advocating for the separation of election processes, he also recommended that the government mandate public participation in elections. "It is essential to assert that participating in elections is an obligation, not merely a right," he stated.

Previously, President Prabowo had expressed his desire for regional leaders to be elected by the DPRD, citing the high costs associated with direct elections. "This system may be too expensive. Indeed? Just look at the faces of the winners; they appear weary, let alone those who lost," Prabowo remarked during his speech at the 60th anniversary celebration of the Golkar Party in Sentul, Bogor, on Thursday evening, December 12, 2024.

Tag: DPR Zulfikar Arse Sadikin