Indonesian politicians and residents must stop discourses to delay the 2024 General Election by returning to the Constitution and principles of democracy, researcher of the University of Indonesia’s Center for Political Studies, Delia Wildianti, stated.

“We must return to the Constitution because it has stipulated how our country must be governed. A regular and periodical election is also one part of the principles of democracy,” Wildianti noted during a virtual public discussion in Jakarta on Thursday.

The researcher noted that consistent adherence to the Constitution and principles of democracy would free Indonesia from political chaos.

The COVID-19 pandemic and focus on post-pandemic economic recovery voiced by some proponents are not sufficient to justify the election delay, Wildianti remarked, adding that they instead expose inconsistencies within the government and political parties, as the government has insisted on organizing the last regional elections in 2020 amid the pandemic.

“All of sudden, discourses to delay the election appear today. I believe government officials and political parties that voiced their support to delay the election are inconsistent in their stances,” the researcher affirmed.

Wildianti highlighted that the success in organizing regional elections in 2020 amid the COVID-19 pandemic, with the increase in voter turnout beyond seven percent, has demonstrated that the pandemic will not hinder any election.

The government must be confident of being capable of properly organizing general elections in 2024 even as the pandemic is yet to end during the election year, she noted.

“The government must be confident in organizing the 2024 general elections by learning from experiences gained during the 2020 Regional Elections,” Wildianti remarked.

The researcher also pointed out that the decision of the House of Representatives’ (DPR RI’s) Commission II to name new commissioners for electoral organizers last February enables the government to plan and organize the general election properly from now.

Source: Antara News