Ganjar urges DPR to form special committee for election law revisions

Indonesian politician Ganjar Pranowo has called on the House of Representatives (DPR) to promptly establish a special committee to deliberate revisions to Law Number 7 of 2017 concerning Elections. Pranowo's statement addresses the emerging proposal within the DPR for regional head elections to be conducted without deputies.

He emphasized that numerous issues surrounding both general and regional elections necessitate immediate and comprehensive discussion by the DPR. “A special committee should be formed immediately so that all issues and proposals can be discussed comprehensively,” Pranowo stated in a phone interview on Thursday.

Pranowo outlined at least seven critical areas requiring attention in the proposed revisions to the Election Law and Regional Head Election Law. These encompass the electoral system design for national and local elections, synchronization of elections, proportionality, presidential candidacy thresholds, parliamentary thresholds, electoral district arrangements, seat conversion, regional head election thresholds, and scheduling.

Further issues include strengthening election organizer institutions, addressing vote-buying and official neutrality, and ensuring representativeness through the inclusion of women, regional representation, vulnerable groups, and political access for people with disabilities. Pranowo stressed the need for a holistic discussion rather than a piecemeal approach.

Meanwhile, within Commission II of the DPR, discussions on changes to the regional head election system are being handled under a separate law. However, the issue of revising the regional head election system continues to gain traction. A recent proposal from a Commission II member suggests electing regional heads without deputies, arguing that deputy regional heads often serve merely as vote-getters.