Neutrality is one of the determining factors for the quality of democracy and contestation in elections
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Vice President Ma'ruf Amin believes that the neutrality of civil servants becomes a factor determining the quality and success of the 2020 regional elections.

"Neutrality is one of the determining factors for the quality of democracy and contestation in elections. Attention to the neutrality of civil servants should be our shared priority in order to uphold the mandate of the Constitution on democracy and people's sovereignty," VP Amin noted in his keynote address delivered during the virtual campaign on Neutrality of National Civil Servants on Wednesday.

To this end, Amin called for holding the 2020 simultaneous regional elections in an open, accountable, and neutral manner and with integrity.

"The sacred nature of the democratic regional elections process, including openness, accountability, integrity, and neutrality in its implementation, must be guarded to ensure that it is not dampened by factors that can mar the essence and foundation of democracy itself," he affirmed.

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Amin pointed out that State Law Number 5 of 2014 on state civil apparatuses stipulates that implementation of the policy and management of civil servants is based on the principle of neutrality.

To this end, neutrality becomes a principle, basic value, code of ethics, and code of conduct that cannot be separated from the very essence of civil apparatuses.

The vice president is also optimistic that creation of the Joint Decree (SKB) on Supervision of Civil Servants' Neutrality in the implementation of the 2020 Regional Elections can be optimally implemented by all agencies and apparatuses in 270 regions.

"This decree aims to create neutral, objective, and accountable 2020 regional elections, especially pertaining to the monitoring of state civil apparatuses' neutrality," he noted.

During the virtual campaign event, the Neutrality declaration, also made in the context of the 2020 regional elections, encompassed four points of commitment necessitated of all state civil apparatuses during the implementation of the stages of elections.

This commitment aims to maintain and uphold the principle of civil apparatuses' neutrality, avoid conflicts of interest, steer clear from engaging in intimidation and threats to civil apparatuses and the public, not take sides with certain candidate pairs; use social media wisely and to not support candidate pairs, to not engage in hate speeches and fake news; and reject money politics and gifts of any form.

On September 10, the Joint Decree on Civil Apparatus Neutrality Supervision in the 2020 Simultaneous Regional Elections was inked by Minister of State Apparatus Empowerment and Bureaucratic Reforms Tjahjo Kumolo, Minister of Home Affairs Tito Karnavian, Chairman of the Elections Supervisory Board Abhan, Chief of the National Civil Service Agency Bima Haria Wibisana, and Chief of the State Civil Apparatus Commission Agus Pramusinto.

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Translator: Fransiska Ninditya/Aria Cindya
Editor: Sri Haryati
Copyright © ANTARA 2020