"The president wants the regional head elections to be held in September, but he did not elaborate on the reason behind wanting to bring them forward. If his wish is realized, we will have a very short time (to prepare) and will have to scrap several phases of the elections," Commissioner of the KPU Arif Budiman said after a meeting with Jokowi here on Tuesday.
Under law number 1/2015, simultaneous regional head elections will be held in 2015.
The law makes it mandatory for the elections commission to draft regulations on the phases, programs and schedules of the regional head elections before they are held in December 2015.
To hold the elections simultaneously in September, earlier than originally planned, at least three of its phases will have to be revised, he pointed out.
"If he (the president) wishes for this, several phases of the elections, including public test and dispute settlement, must be scrapped. However, whether they will be maintained will depend on what the House of Representatives (DPR) decides," Budiman noted.
Furthermore, there has been no certainty regarding the regional head elections yet, as the DPR and the government were considering revising law number 1/2015 on the same, the KPU commissioner explained.
"We can only speculate, for now. If everything, including the law, budget and personnel, are prepared to support the elections, they can be held (in September 2015). However, we will find it rather difficult if we are suddenly ordered to do so," he remarked.(*)
Editor: Heru Purwanto
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