December 11, 2024

There must be a Written Prohibition on Distributing Social Assistance in the 2024 Regional Elections

Lecturer in Election Law, Faculty of Law, University of Indonesia (UI), Titi Anggraini, hopes that there will be a written ban on the distribution of social assistance in the 2024 regional elections. The Constitutional Court ordered that the distribution of social assistance must be regulated as to when and who distributes it to prevent the politicization of social assistance.

The KPU and other authorities must respond to the prohibition of social assistance in the 2024 regional elections. If you reflect on what happened in the presidential election, “Learning from the Constitutional Court’s decision is actually highlighted, not just social assistance,” said Titi in a discussion entitled Peaceful Pilkada 2024 at the Press Council Office, Jakarta (5/6).

Article 71 of the Regional Election Law states that candidates for governor, regent, and mayor and their deputies can have their nominations canceled if they make policies that are beneficial or detrimental. According to Titi, Bawaslu in the 2020 Pilkada made recommendations for cancellation using articles 71 and 73, for example in South Nias, Tasikmalaya, and Lampung. Even though it ended in cancellation because it was corrected by the court,.

“But at least, when this authority is used, there is room for execution as long as Bawaslu really works professionally, effectively, and masters the rules well,” he said.

Titi explained that the Ministry of Home Affairs (Kemendagri) in the 2020 Pilkada clearly stated that incumbents were not permitted to distribute social assistance using the electoral logo. This should be followed up with written policies, not just recommendations. Moreover, the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has recommended the distribution of social assistance in the 2024 regional elections. []