By: Gema Iva Kirana )*
All needs for the implementation of the 2024 Election have been prepared by the Government very well and show how strong the government’s commitment is to holding a democratic party. So indeed the running of the democratic party was not postponed at all and will take place according to the agreed schedule.
Elections are one of the efforts to influence the people persuasively (not forcing) by carrying out rhetorical activities, political relations, mass communication, lobbying, and so on. Although agitation and propaganda in democratic countries are highly criticized, in general election campaigns, agitation and propaganda techniques are widely used by candidates or politicians as political communicators.
Voters in elections are called constituents and it is to them that election participants offer their promises and programs during the campaign period. The campaign was carried out during a predetermined time, leading up to voting day. Indeed, elections are a powerful way to choose leaders, even though the impact is the formation of pros and cons, even white groups who think neutral. But on the other hand, with elections, people are free to choose to determine who will be the leader.
The general election itself is indeed a thing that is very synonymous with upholding democratization in a country. Then, Indonesia itself is a country that adheres to a democratic political system as adopted by many other countries in the world.
There are several pillars that are prerequisites for the functioning of a democratic political system, namely: The holding of free and periodic elections; The existence of an open, accountable and responsive government; There is protection of human rights (HAM); The development of civil society in society.
Thus, the holding of free and periodic elections is a prerequisite for a democratic political system, because elections are one of the means of popular sovereignty in which the people can choose their representatives and leaders to run the government.
Approaching the political year, namely the upcoming 2024 elections, it turns out that an issue had occurred which then gave rise to a lot of polemics in society. The issue concerns the existence of discourse on postponing the election, especially after the Central Jakarta District Court (PN) decision was put forward and sentenced the KPU when they granted the demands of the Prima Party.
Regarding this matter, the Director General for Politics and Public Administration at the Ministry of Home Affairs (Kemendagri) Bahtiar said, the Government is ensuring that the 2024 elections are held as scheduled, namely on February 14, 2024. The rolling issue of postponing the elections is not an obstacle to carrying out the democratic party in a timely manner.
Bahtiar explained, the government had prepared everything for the holding of the 2024 elections in the last three years. The General Election Commission (KPU) and the Election Supervisory Body (Bawaslu) are also ready. Even the KPU has conducted recruitment to the sub-district and sub-district levels to make the election successful.
Furthermore, he also revealed that the Government of Indonesia has a very strong commitment to continue to provide all kinds of preparation for the election to the fullest, including financing the holding of elections. So far, the government has disbursed a number of funds to finance elections. According to Bahtiar, the funds prepared were sufficient, moreover the KPU itself had made innovations to save expenses.
In a similar vein, the Coordinating Minister for Politics, Law and Security (Menko Polhukam), Mahfud MD, stated that the government was preparing for the 2024 Simultaneous General Election (Pemilu) in earnest, and there was no extension of the term of office for the president, nor a postponement of the election.
Therefore, Mahfud saw the need to make the election more orderly in order to prevent various disturbances that could hinder the implementation of the election. Both the government, election organizers, election participants, and society must become more orderly.
On another occasion, President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) emphasized that there was no postponement of the General Election (Pemilu) and that according to the decision taken with the People’s Representative Council (DPR) it will be held on 14 February 2024, while the Regional Head Elections (Pilkada) will be held simultaneously in November 2024.
It is clear that holding a democratic party, namely holding general elections (elections) is a big wish for the Indonesian people, who adhere to a democratic system in running their government.
For this reason, there should indeed be no delay in the election. Because if this happens, democratization in this country will also be hampered and disrupted. So that the government continues to make efforts to ensure that the 2024 Election can continue to run well by preparing all the needs for the democratic party seriously and working together with many parties even from a long time ago.
)* The author is a contributor to Persada Institute
