"We should view the decision as a momentum to improve our election system," KPU Chairperson Mochammad Afifuddin stated during a public discussion at the Parliament Complex here on Friday.
The KPU is prepared to implement the MK ruling, as it has experience in conducting general elections under various election models, each with their own complexities.
"The electoral agency had carried out 'the most complex (election) worldwide in 2019 and 2024,'" he added.
Nonetheless, the KPU head suggested that in the future, the selection process for national and regional election officials should be conducted simultaneously to ensure they are better prepared for their roles.
He highlighted that until the last election, the selection process was still carried out asynchronously. Some regions even saw their election officials replaced days before the voting day.
"We highlighted the importance of the simultaneous selection process since 2022," he added.
Meanwhile, General Elections Supervisory Agency (Bawaslu) Head Rahmat Bagja underscored several issues that may arise from holding national and regional polls at different times, including increased election costs and a rise in money politics.
"The competition for political positions in the national legislative election also grows along with the risk of 'candidate buying'," he pointed out.
On June 26, the Constitutional Court (MK) ruled that executive and legislative elections at the regional level must be held between two and two-and-a-half years after the conclusion of national elections, marked by the inauguration of elected candidates.
In this context, national elections refer to voting for the president and vice president, House of Representatives (DPR) legislators, and senators at the Regional Representative Council (DPD), while regional elections cover governors, mayors, district heads, and lawmakers at the provincial and municipal/district levels.
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Translator: Melalusa Susthira, Nabil Ihsan
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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