"We conducted a meeting and decided to allow Bu Evi to return as a KPU member for the 2017-2022 term starting from [Monday]," KPU chairman Arief Budiman said.

Arief said Jokowi had issued on Aug. 11 Presidential Decree No. 80/P/2020 to revoke his previous decree approving Evi's permanent dismissal from the commission.

Evi had sent the new decree to relevant parties such as the Election Organization Ethics Council (DKPP), the Elections Supervisory Agency (Bawaslu) and the Home Ministry.

She will return to her original position in the KPU as the coordinator of the technical division, Arief said.

"There has not been any change in relation to her tasks. So, for now Bu Evi will return as the coordinator of the technical division," he said as quoted by kompas.com.

Jokowi issued Presidential Decree No. 34/2020 on Evi's dismissal in late March after the DKPP dismissed her for allegedly falsifying the 2019 regional election results in West Kalimantan.

Evi filed a lawsuit with the Jakarta State Administrative Court (PTUN) in March against Jokowi’s decree. The court ruled in her favor in July, ordering the President to revoke the decree, rehabilitate Evi’s name and restore her position at the KPU.

The PTUN judges cited “serious juridical defects” by the DKPP in the decision-making process in Evi’s dismissal, arguing that she had not been afforded her right of defense as the council had not questioned Evi prior to issuing the ruling.

On Aug. 7, presidential expert staff member Dini Shanti Purwono said Jokowi respected the ruling and would not file an appeal.

“The President will issue another decree to revoke a decree stipulating Evi Novida’s dismissal as a KPU commissioner,” Dini said. (nal)

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