Jakarta, Suaradewata.com – Deputy Chairman of the DPR RI, Sufmi Dasco Ahmad, emphasized that the Revision of the Regional Election Law (RUU) would not be ratified on Thursday (22/8/2024). He ensured that the rules that would be used in the 2024 Pilkada would still refer to the decision of the Constitutional Court (MK).
Dasco explained that even though the revision of the Regional Election Law which had been drafted by the DPR together with the government was not ratified today, the results of the revision would not be lost. This revision will most likely be implemented in the next regional election period, namely in 2024-2029.
“Perhaps it will be implemented in the next period, because improvements are still needed which we feel are not yet perfect,” said Dasco at the Senayan Parliament Complex, Jakarta.
He also emphasized that the revision of the Regional Election Law did not appear suddenly. The bill has been under discussion since January 2024, although the process is progressing slowly. According to Dasco, the momentum for ratifying this revision is close to the date of nomination of regional heads for the 2024 regional elections.
“The revision of the Regional Election Law has been under discussion since January 2024, although it is progressing slowly,” he explained.
The Regional Election Bill which was supposed to be passed today was canceled because there was no quorum in the DPR plenary session. The number of members present does not meet the requirements for decision making.
“Today, after experiencing a delay of 30 minutes and still not reaching a quorum, it was decided that the revision of the Regional Election Law could not be implemented,” said Dasco.
With this decision, Dasco ensures that the registration of regional head candidates in the 2024 regional elections will continue to refer to the Constitutional Court’s decision, especially the results of the judicial review submitted by the Labor Party and the Gelora Party.
“Because the revision of the Regional Election Law was not passed today, the rules that apply when registering candidates on August 27 are the result of the Constitutional Court’s decision,” he stressed.
Apart from that, Dasco guaranteed that there would be no additional plenary meetings to ratify the revision of the Regional Election Law. He emphasized that DPR plenary meetings are only held on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and registration of regional head candidates will begin next Tuesday, so it is impossible to hold a plenary meeting while the registration process is underway.
“Because the plenary session is only held on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and registration starts on Tuesday, it is impossible for us to hold the plenary session during registration,” he said.
The MK’s latest decision regarding the 2024 regional elections requires political parties that nominate candidates for governor and deputy governor to obtain 7.5 percent of the votes in the DPRD in the 2024 elections, in contrast to previous regulations which set a higher threshold.