Jakarta – Indonesian President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) emphasized that the government supports the efforts of the General Elections Commission (KPU) to appeal the decision to postpone the 2024 elections by the Central Jakarta District Court.
Jokowi said that his party remained committed so that the 2024 elections would still be held as scheduled. Moreover, the government has prepared funds for the implementation of the five-year political party.
“I have conveyed it back and forth, the government’s commitment to this election stage is going well, the preparation of the budget has been well prepared, I think we hope that the election stages will continue,” Jokowi said in Bandung, West Java, as quoted from the Presidential Secretariat’s YouTube channel.
Jokowi admitted that the Central Jakarta District Court decision had caused controversy and pros and cons. Regarding this decision, Jokowi emphasized that the government supports the KPU in appealing.
“Indeed (the decision to postpone the election) is a controversy that raises pros and cons, but the government also supports the KPU to appeal,” said Jokowi.
Previously, the Central Jakarta District Court decided to postpone the 2024 election stage after granting all the lawsuits filed by the Just and Prosperous People’s Party (PRIMA) against the KPU.
In its lawsuit, the PRIMA Party feels disadvantaged by the KPU because it was stated that it did not meet the administrative verification requirements for political parties as candidates for the 2024 Election, so they cannot take part in the 2024 Election.
Meanwhile, in its decision, the Central Jakarta District Court considered that the KPU had violated the law and was ordered to pay compensation to PRIMA Party in the amount of IDR 500 million.
“To judge, punish the defendant [KPU] not to carry out the remaining stages of the 2024 General Election since this decision was read and carry out the stages of the General Election from the beginning for approximately two years and four months and seven days,” said the verdict.
After receiving support from President Jokowi, the Indonesian KPU finally officially filed a memorandum of appeal against the Central Jakarta District Court decision on Friday (10/2/2023).
“Apart from declaring an appeal against the Central Jakarta District Court decision, the KPU has also submitted a memory of appeal against the Central Jakarta District Court Decision Number 757/Pdt.G/2022/PN.JKT.PST,” said KPU member, Mochammad Afifuddin, in a written statement.
Afifuddin added that the appeal statement made by the KPU against the Central Jakarta District Court decision is a form of the KPU’s seriousness in facing and responding to the lawsuit filed by Parta PRIMA.
“Furthermore, the KPU is waiting for a decision from the Jakarta High Court Judge on the appeal filed,” Afifuddin added.
Previously, the KPU submitted the memory of the appeal through the Head of the Legal Advocacy and Dispute Resolution Bureau (AHPS) of the General Secretariat of the KPU, Andi Krisna, at the Central Jakarta District Court. Andi explained that the KPU as a whole has submitted the entire appeal process and documents.
“We submitted the documents earlier, we have also received the Deed of Appeal,” said Andi.