A government proposal to bring forward the 2024 regional elections by two months has split opinions at the House of Representatives. Some parties at the House see it as a way to remove pressure on the incoming government, while others are concerned that it would increase the burden on election organizers.

The regional elections, set to be held on Nov. 24 of next year, will be the first time Indonesians vote for their regional leaders simultaneously across the country’s dozens of provinces and hundreds of regencies and cities.

The government, however, has reportedly been testing the waters with lawmakers for a proposal to hold the elections earlier than scheduled and instead host them on two separate dates on Sept. 7 and Sept. 24.

A report from Kompas published earlier this week, citing an unnamed source within the Presidential Palace, said that President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo was privy to the proposal after it was floated by a staff at the Home Ministry

The report said that the Jokowi administration was planning to issue a government regulation in lieu of law (Perppu) in September that would revise the current election date of Nov. 24 in the prevailing law on regional elections.

Any Perppu however must be passed by the House after it is signed by the President to become permanent legislation.

But speaking to reporters on the sidelines of an event on the outskirts of Jakarta on Thursday, Jokowi feigned ignorance and denied any plans to publish any Perppu to fast track the regional elections.

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