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Critics flag conflict of interest in KPU selection committee
With a recent decree, President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo appointed 11 people – including close allies – to select the best candidates to serve as members of the General Elections Commission (KPU) and the Elections Supervisory Agency (Bawaslu) for the five-year term beginning in 2022.
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Workers from the Depok General Elections Commission (KPU) stack ballot boxes at a warehouse in Cimanggis district, Depok, West Java, on Nov. 25, 2020. (JP/P.J. Leo)
T
he government is under fire for assembling a committee that includes allies of the ruling coalition to oversee the selection of new election administrators and supervisors, who would play a key role in safeguarding democracy.
Last week, President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo issued a decree on the appointment of a selection committee for candidate members of the General Elections Commission (KPU) and the Elections Supervisory Agency (Bawaslu).
The two entities are responsible for the staging of elections in Indonesia – some of the world’s most complex – from preparation and execution to checks and balances.
With the decree, Jokowi appointed 11 experienced figures and tasked them with beginning preparations to select the best candidates to serve on the KPU and Bawaslu for the next five years beginning in 2022.
Among them, however, are people closely linked with the government itself, including committee chairman Jury Ardiantoro. And concerns are rife that the committee could face undue pressure or influence from Jokowi’s circle.
Mardani Ali Sera, chairman of the Prosperous Justice Party’s (PKS) central board, for instance, criticized Jury’s appointment, arguing that the team should be composed of figures not involved in previous election contests.
“Without prejudice, it would be better to choose someone who is neutral and has a background that doesn’t link him or her to any political contention in the near future,” the opposition figure told kompas.com on Tuesday.
