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Survey respondents anxious over govt focus in view of 2024 elections prep
Just under a majority of respondents in a Kompas survey revealed they were concerned that increased politicking would draw the government’s focus away from the pandemic response this year, when preparations for the presidential, legislative and regional elections in 2024 were expected to start.
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Workers of the Depok General Elections Commission (KPU) transport ballot boxes on Nov. 25, 2020 at a warehouse in Cimanggis district, Depok, West Java. (JP/P.J. Leo)
M
embers of the public expect electoral politics to intensify this year in view of the 2024 elections, a recent survey shows, with many respondents expressing concern that increased politicking would detract the government's focus from the pandemic response.
The nationwide survey, which was conducted on Dec. 20-22 by the research and development division of Kompas daily, revealed that 71.9 percent of the respondents believed 2022 would be a political year as the country prepared for the 2024 elections. In addition, 73.1 percent of respondents expected political parties and presidential candidates to dial up their political campaigns this year.
The survey, which used a random sampling of 504 respondents aged 17 years and older from the country’s 34 provinces, has a 4.37 percent margin of error.
The 2017 General Elections Law stipulates that election organizers should start preparing an election no later than 20 months before the polls. This means that the General Elections Commission (KPU) should start preparations for the 2024 elections this year amid the uncertainties surrounding the election schedule.
The government and the KPU are currently at a deadlock over the election schedule. The government has proposed that the presidential and legislative elections be held on May 15 so it was closer to the date of the regional polls, which are to be held on an as yet undetermined date in November 2024.
Read also: House delays decision on election dates, again
The government cited political and security concerns as regards its proposed date, saying that a relatively lengthy duration between the national and regional elections would further polarize the public and thus pose a risk to political stability and national security.
