We need to know the detailed budget to understand its distribution proportionality despite the electoral budget not being deliberated at this time
Jakarta (ANTARA) - A legislator sought a detailed budget plan from the General Elections Commission (KPU) for the 2024 General Elections if a health protocol budget is required in case the pandemic prolongs till the election year.

"(If the COVID-19 pandemic persists till 2024), then the authority should consequently allocate more budget for implementing health protocols and other infection prevention measures," House of Representatives (DPR RI) Commission II member Guspardi Gaus stated in Jakarta, Friday.

Gaus noted that budget for the recent 2020 regional elections had increased by Rp4.77 trillion (around US$333 million) for implementing health protocols, as the elections were held amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Gaus remarked that the electoral commission set the 2024 General Elections and Regional Elections budgets at Rp86 trillion (around US$6.02 billion) and Rp26.2 trillion (around US$1.8 billion), respectively. In spite of the huge budget, he noticed that the total budget had yet to take into account the COVID-19 pandemic.

"We need to know the detailed budget to understand its distribution proportionality despite the electoral budget not being deliberated at this time," Gaus affirmed.

The legislator deemed it important to have an effective and efficient budget plan for a large-scale program, especially for taking into account the high costs and complicated 2024 elections.

Gaus reminded the electoral commission to draft two election plans, with one covering the normal scenario when the COVID-19 pandemic is presumed to be over by 2024 and the other plan for an extraordinary situation with the COVID-19 mitigation budget included, assuming that the pandemic protracts until 2024.

A mitigation plan to hold the 2024 elections with the enforcement of health protocols is deemed necessary, as uncertainty still looms large over whether the pandemic would be over in 2024, he stated.

Related news: Electoral Commission proposes holding 2024 General Elections on Feb 21
Related news: Preparations for 2024 elections will be challenging: Home Ministry
Related news: COVID-19 pandemic could not justify general elections delay: Expert

Translator: Imam B, Nabil Ihsan
Editor: Sri Haryati
Copyright © ANTARA 2021