General Election Bill Must Guarantee Honest and Fair Democratic Process, President Jokowi Says

President Jokowi led a limited meeting on General Election Bill on Tuesday (13/9), at the Presidential Office, Jakarta

After leading a limited meeting on maritime and fisheries industry, President Joko ‘Jokowi’ Widodo led another limited meeting on General Election Bill on Tuesday (13/9), at the Presidential Office, Jakarta. The Bill will later be proposed by the Government to the House of Representatives (DPR).

In his remarks, the President said that laws on election, be it the Legislative Election or Presidential Election have been amended several times since the reform era. In fact, there must be an amendment ahead of the general election. However, the President admitted that the amendment in election laws is based on the dynamics in constitutional system and our joint efforts to improve the quality of democracy.

Later, the President added, we must prepare a new regulatory framework on elections to conform with the decisions of the Constitutional Court (MK) in 2013 saying that the legislative election to elect members of DPR, the Regional Representative Council (DPD), and Regional House of Representatives (DPRD) as well as the presidential and vice presidential election in 2019 will be held simultaneously.

President Jokowi wants the substance on the General Election Bill proposed by the Government can simplify and harmonize other laws. “It can simplify and harmonize three different laws, namely laws on legislative election, presidential and vice presidential election, and the general election,” the President said.

President Jokowi also asserted that the spirit in formulating the new election law not only aims to follow up the decision of the MK but also aims to perfect the substance according to the practical experiences of the previous elections, both in terms of technical implementation, the stages of the elections, the management to hold an election, and prevention of money politics practice.

“With these improving measures, the democratic practice in the upcoming general election will be more qualified and better,” President Jokowi said and reminding all that the election might be an instrument to simplify party system, materialize a more accountable representative institution, and strengthen the presidential system.

On that occasion, the President also reminded all that the election system, parliamentary threshold, presidential and vice presidential nominating system, arrangement of electoral districts, and method to convert votes into seats must be calculated carefully so it can create an effective and accountable government.

“I also asked all to pay attention to the process so that the new election law would not be trapped in short-term political interests, and they must ensure that the law could guarantee the democratic process runs democratic, honest and fair,” the President said.

President Jokowi asked the formulation in the articles of the Bill on General Election to be more clear and have no multiple interpretations that will create trouble for election organizers to run the election.

Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs Wiranto, Coordinating Minister for the Economy Darmin Nasution, Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture Puan Maharani, Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs Luhut B. Pandjaitan, Minister of Home Affairs Tjahjo Kumolo, Minister of State Secretary Pratikno, Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung, Presidential Chief of Staff Teten Masduki, Minister of Law and Human Rights Yasonna M. Laoly, Chairman of the General Elections Commision (KPU) Juri Ardiantoro, and Head of Election Supervisory Agency (Bawaslu) Muhammad also attended the limited meeting. (FID/DID/DNS/ES) (RAS/MMB/YM/Naster)