"Indonesia Corruption Watch (ICW) and the Association for Elections and Democracy (Perkumpulan untuk Pemilu dan Demokrasi or Perludem) demand the General Election Commission (KPU) to revise the KPU Regulation (PKPU) regarding the acceleration of former corruption convicts running in Legislative Elections in accordance with the Supreme Court's decision that has annulled Article 11 paragraph (6) of PKPU 10/2023 on the Nomination of Members of the DPR/DPRD and Article 18 paragraph (2) of PKPU 11/2023 on the Nomination of Members of the DPD."
"We demand that the General Election Commission (KPU) promptly revise the KPU Regulation (PKPU) 10 and PKPU 11 of 2023 by removing the additional criminal requirements for former convicts who wish to run as legislative members," as quoted in the online press release conveyed through digital documents on September 30th."
ICW and Perludem provide several remarks. Firstly, the Supreme Court's decision clearly highlights the rotten state of the Election Commission in formulating regulations regarding the nomination of legislative members. Because, both formally, which the lack of participation is known, and materially, there are also issues because it contradicts the Election Law.
"This also simultaneously proves that the reasons made by the Election Commission (KPU) to justify this KPU Regulation (PKPU) on Legislative Candidate Nomination are incorrect and mistaken, and can even be called unfounded," emphasized the press release.
Second, the grant of this judicial review further reinforces the public's suspicion that the internal rules of the Election Commission (KPU) are indeed detrimental to the public and only benefit former corruption convicts. Because the basic right of the public to have candidates with integrity is taken away by the KPU.
Third, the momentum of the Supreme Court (MA) granted the judicial review by the applicants further highlights the poor quality of election organizers in upholding the values of integrity.
Fourth, the annulment of several articles in KPU Regulation Number 10 and Number 11 of 2023 further tarnishes the image of the Election Commission (KPU), following previous massive criticisms from the public regarding controversies over the factual verification of political parties, ethical violations by the Chair of the KPU of Indonesia, and the controversy over women's representation, which was also previously annulled by the Supreme Court (MA).
The Supreme Court (MA) decision is a response to the judicial review submitted by a coalition of civil society organizations. The applicants for the material test include Indonesia Corruption Watch (ICW), the Association for Elections and Democracy (Perkumpulan untuk Pemilu dan Demokrasi or Perludem), as well as two former leaders of the Corruption Eradication Commission, namely Saut Situmorang and Abraham Samad. Both of these KPU regulations are in conflict with Article 240 paragraph (1) letter g of Law Number 7 of 2017 on General Elections, in conjunction with Constitutional Court Decision 87/PUU-XX/2022. []
Translated by Catherine Natalia
