Indonesia considers revising election system

Indonesian Deputy Minister of Home Affairs Bima Arya Sugiarto has revealed that President Prabowo Subianto tasked the ministry to evaluate the country’s current general election system due to identified inefficiencies.

The General Election Commission (KPU) of Banjarbaru city, South Kalimantan, conducts a simulation of vote collection and counting. (Photo: ANTARA)
The General Election Commission (KPU) of Banjarbaru city, South Kalimantan, conducts a simulation of vote collection and counting. (Photo: ANTARA)

Jakarta (VNA) – Indonesian Deputy Minister of Home Affairs Bima Arya Sugiarto has revealed that President Prabowo Subianto tasked the ministry to evaluate the country’s current general election system due to identified inefficiencies.

As reported by the local weekly magazine Tempo, the official said that Prabowo's directive stemmed from growing societal concerns regarding the high costs of political campaigns and the perceived divisiveness of elections.

According to him, the Ministry of Home Affairs has yet to present a concrete proposal for electoral reform, but he assured that the ministry is actively seeking public input, including from organisations and community coalitions, to inform potential changes to the election regulations for future elections.

“We will hold public forums to conduct thorough studies and ensure that any changes are not rushed,” he emphasised as quoted by Tempo.

Meanwhile, the country’s association for elections and democracy Perludem proposed several reforms to the legislative body (baleg) of the House of Representatives and the Ministry of Home Affairs, urging for the enactment of a revised election law by 2025./.

VNA

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