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KPU, experts seek criminal sanctions for campaign health violations
The KPU commissioner has called for “heavy punishments”.
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An election official helps a voter with a disability take part in a simulation of the 2020 simultaneous regional elections in front of the General Elections Commission (KPU) headquarters in Jakarta on July 22. JP/Dhoni Setiawan
(JP/Dhoni Setiawan)
P
ressure is mounting for the government to revise the Regional Elections Law through a regulation in lieu of law (Perppu) to enforce strict health protocols during the upcoming simultaneous regional elections.
The General Elections Commission (KPU) and experts have said that candidates should be held criminally liable under the proposed Perppu if they violate health protocols at any stage of the electoral process.
“[Campaign events that attract crowds] should be forbidden with heavy punishments through the Perppu,” KPU commissioner Viryan Azis said on Saturday. “One of the possibilities is to increase the prohibition of campaigns that attract crowds, including during balloting and vote counting.”
The elections will decide 270 regional leaders, consisting of nine governors, 224 regents and 37 mayors. Candidates are currently permitted to hold public campaign events from Sept. 26 to Dec. 5, before voting day on Dec. 9. But epidemiologists and election experts warn that such events may become catalysts for COVID-19 contagion, particularly after prospective candidates were found to have violated health protocols earlier this month.
The KPU has recently been in the spotlight for revising a KPU regulation without making significant changes to measures to prevent virus transmission during elections. The new regulation allows candidates to host physical campaign events that could attract crowds, including concerts, art performances, festivals, competitions, bazaars, blood donation drives and commemorations of party anniversaries.
Read also: KPU criticized for allowing crowd-pullers during campaigns for December’s elections
Candidates may host face-to-face rallies only in open spaces and with no more than 100 participants. The regulation also requires candidates, campaign teams and election organizers to comply with health protocols, such as wearing masks, and prohibits mass gatherings at all stages of the elections. Campaigns found in violation of the regulation will receive warnings from the KPU, which critics say are lenient.
