"Acting regional heads must resign five months before the regional elections' implementation if they want to contest the elections," he said during a coordination meeting held via video conferencing on Thursday.
He added that acting regional heads appointed by the central government to fill vacant regional head posts must not use their positions for political purposes.
"All acting regional heads must remain neutral during the implementation of regional elections," Karnavian stressed.
The neutrality of acting regional heads during regional elections is regulated by Law Number 10 of 2016 concerning the second amendment to Law Number 1 of 2014 concerning the election of Governors, District Heads, and Mayors, enacted on July 1, 2016.
Under the law, candidates for governor and deputy governor, district head and deputy district head, as well as mayor and deputy mayor must meet the requirements.
According to the minister, one of the requirements for candidates is that they must not hold the office of acting governor, acting district head, or acting mayor.
"Acting regional heads who contest the regional elections are at risk of being sanctioned," he said.
The coordination meeting held by the Ministry of Home Affairs on Thursday aimed to optimize the performance of acting governors, acting district heads, and acting mayors in relation to strategic issues related to regional elections and the governance of regional government administration.
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Translator: Nyaman Bagus, Raka Adji
Editor: Aditya Eko Sigit Wicaksono
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