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Explainer: Prima, the party behind the controversial 'election restart' ruling
The relative newcomer has insisted that it wasn't trying to delay the 2024 elections with its lawsuit, merely get the KPU to declare it eligible to participate, even though it failed the verification process – twice.
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In this undated photo, an official seals a ballot box for the 2019 elections at the warehouse of the Madiun General Elections Commission (KPU Madiun) in East Java. (Antara/Siswowidodo)
A recent district court ruling that effectively orders election organizers to postpone the 2024 general election, now less than a year away, has caused public uproar public and cast a spotlight on the little-known Prima Party, the plaintiff that won the civil lawsuit.
One of the 40 parties that aspired to contest the 2024 elections, Prima’s journey ended midway through the process in November, after challenging the General Elections Commission (KPU) over declaring it ineligible the previous month.
Accusing the KPU of “mistreatment” during the registration and verification process for political parties, Prima filed its lawsuit with the Central Jakarta District Court, which ruled in the party’s favor earlier this month. As part of its decision, the court also ordered the KPU to halt its ongoing preparations and restart the entire process, effectively pushing back the elections to 2025 at the earliest.
Familiar names
A relative newcomer to national politics, Prima was established on June 1, 2021 on Pancasila Day, which marks the birth of the state ideology.
Prima chairman Agus Jabo Priyono describes the party as representing the interests of marginalized communities, including labor unions and owners of small and medium enterprises. The name Prima stands for Partai Rakyat Adil Makmur (Fair and Prosperous People’s Party) and among its key programs is a push for more equitable tax reform.
“Prima is the party of ordinary people [who were] born as the nation struggles under the weight of the pandemic and economic problems that stray further from principles of humanity and justice," said Agus during the party’s inauguration.
