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New KPU, Bawaslu commissioners confirmed amid alleged politicking
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General Elections Commission (KPU) commissioner candidate Mochamad Afifuddin (right) answered questions raised by House of Representatives' Commission II, which oversees home affairs, in a confirmation hearing held at the House complex in Senayan, Jakarta, on Feb. 15. (Antara Foto/Aditya Pradana Putra)
T
he House of Representatives has confirmed 12 new commissioners for the General Elections Commission (KPU) and the Elections Supervisory Agency (Bawaslu), amid reports of behind-closed-doors lobbying that prompted scrutiny from election watchdogs.
House Commission II, which oversees home affairs, confirmed seven new KPU commissioners and five Bawaslu commissioners on Thursday, following hearing sessions held since Monday to whittle down the 24 candidates who were proposed to the House by a government-formed selection committee.
Lawmakers reached a consensus after what was supposed to be a 15-minute break turned into two-and-a-half hours of closed-door deliberation, which pushed Commission II’s plenary session on Wednesday past midnight.
The newly confirmed KPU commissioners are Betty Epsilon Idroos, Parsadaan Harahap, Yulianto Sudrajat, Idham Holik, August Mellaz and incumbent Hasyim Asy’ari, as well as sitting Bawaslu commissioner Mochammad Afifuddin.
Meanwhile, the new Bawaslu commissioners are Lolly Suhenty, Puadi, Totok Hariyono, Herwyn Jefler Hielsa Malonda and incumbent Rahmat Bagja.
All of the confirmed commissioners have a track record in the KPU and Bawaslu at a national or regional level, with the exception of August, who has a background in the Election and Democracy Syndicate (SPD).
President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo is expected to inaugurate the new commissioners before the terms of the incumbent KPU and Bawaslu commissioners expire in April 11.
