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KPU, House to discuss sanctions to incumbents not taking leave during campaigns
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Commissioner of General Election Commission (KPU) Hadar Nafis Gumay shows examples of the candidacy form, candidates declaration form and the recapitulation of support figures for independent candidates in the second round of 2017 simultaneous Regional Elections at KPU Center headquarters in Jakarta on April 20. (Antara/Reno Esnir)
G
eneral Elections Commission (KPU) commissioner Hadar Nafis Gumay said the KPU was still discussing with the House of Representatives the regulation concerning campaigns, including sanctions imposed on an incumbent who does not want to take leave during a campaign period.
“There must be a sanction imposed to the incumbent who does not want to take leave. We propose that such an incumbent will be prohibited from campaigning at all,” Hadar said in Badung, Bali, on Monday.
Hadar said the commission was currently awaiting input from the House about the matter.
On Monday, the Constitutional Court conducted the first hearing to review the leave requirement in the Regional Elections Law, which had been filed by Jakarta Governor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama. The hearing was adjourned as the judge ordered Ahok to revise his petition.
Ahok previously said he would prefer to work on the 2017 city budget bill rather than taking leave to campaign for next year's gubernatorial election. His judicial review aims to seek clarification on whether he is required to take leave if he does not want to campaign. Ahok said campaigning was his right and no law shall force him to leave his work if he did not want to campaign. (dmr)
