Minister of Home Affairs Proposes Bill to Accelerate Regional Head Elections

REGIONAL ELECTION - JAKARTA. The Government Regulation in Lieu of Law (Perppu) on Regional Elections is currently being discussed between the government and Commission II of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI). 

The Minister of Home Affairs, Tito Karnavian, stated that there are several contents and adjustments of articles in the Perppu on Regional Elections. 

First, anticipate the vacancy of regional heads on January 1, 2025. To anticipate this, it must be ensured that by no later than January 1, 2025, the regional heads resulting from the simultaneous regional elections in 2024 must have been inaugurated. 

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"For this reason, there needs to be a regulation regarding the deadline for the inauguration of regional heads of the 2024 regional elections," said Tito, monitored online, on Sunday (24/9). 

Second, accelerate the implementation of regional elections to September 2024. This acceleration also avoids the vacancy of regional heads on January 1, 2025. 

Therefore, said Tito, there will be enough time for 3 months until the beginning of the year for the completion of administrative recapitulation processes, and plenary determination of winners. 

"And this also anticipates up to the dispute process," explained Tito. 

Third, shortening the campaign duration to 30 days to avoid overlap between the stages of the general election and regional elections. 

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Fourth, shortening the duration of the regional election dispute process. Considering the campaign duration is shortened to 30 days, the duration of the nomination dispute will also be shortened. 

Fifth, the legal certainty of political parties (parpol) or a coalition of parpol proposing a pair of regional head candidates is the result of the 2024 general election. 

"There needs to be a norm that regulates that the requirements for the nomination of regional heads proposed by a political party or a coalition of political parties are based on the results of the 2024 General Election determined by the General Election Commission (KPU) by considering the percentage provisions, as in Article 40 of the Regional Election Law," explained Tito Tito. 

Sixth, is the simultaneous inauguration of the Regional House of Representatives (DPRD) in 2024. Based on Law No. 23 of 2014 on Regional Government, the regional head and DPRD are the organizers of government in the region. 

"This means, the management of regional development is greatly influenced by the harmony of the term of office of DPRD members and regional heads," concluded Tito.