Jakarta \u2014 Titi Anggraini, a lecturer in electoral law and\nconstitutional law at the University of Indonesia, has endorsed a\nproposal for the General Elections Commission (KPU) to become a fourth\nbranch of state power, contending it would strengthen independence and\nprevent political interference.<\/p>\n
Anggraini argues that placing the KPU as a fourth branch of power\nwould send a strong constitutional message that election administration\nis not merely an administrative state function, but rather a fundamental\npillar of democracy.<\/p>\n
\u201cGiven such substantial authority, strengthening the KPU\u2019s\nconstitutional position is important to ensure its independence is not\neasily disrupted by political power struggles,\u201d she told the news agency\nANTARA in Jakarta on Thursday.<\/p>\n
Anggraini was responding to a proposal made by constitutional law\nexpert Jimly Asshiddiqie during public hearings with Commission II of\nthe Indonesian House of Representatives at the parliamentary complex in\nJakarta on Tuesday, 10 March.<\/p>\n
According to her, the proposal is compelling for restructuring the\narchitecture of electoral democracy law and creating space for healthier\ndemocratic practice in election administration.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn my view, this idea is compelling because it opens space to\nrestructure the architecture of our electoral democracy law. Healthy\ndemocracy requires not only a strong executive, legislature, and\njudicial branch, but also genuinely independent election administrators\nwho are protected constitutionally,\u201d she stated.<\/p>\n
Anggraini emphasised that the KPU has historically been positioned as\nan administrative body, despite its practice involving far more\nstrategic functions\u2014from formulating technical election regulations to\nmanaging national electoral processes and safeguarding the integrity of\npolitical competition.<\/p>\n
The constitutional message in this discourse, she said, could\nstrengthen institutional protection of election administrators from\npolitical power interventions that frequently emerge during and before\nelectoral processes.<\/p>\n
She added that strengthening this institution, which handles\nelectoral matters every five years, should be accompanied by enhanced\ninstitutional accountability through adherence to professional\nstandards, transparency, and strict oversight.<\/p>\n
\u201cNaturally, this strengthened position must be accompanied by\nenhanced accountability. Independence for election administrators should\nnot be interpreted as power without control. Precisely because of its\nstrategic position, election administrators must be subject to\nprofessional standards, transparency, and strict oversight,\u201d Anggraini\nstated.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/expert-values-kpu-entry-as-fourth-branch-of-power-to-strengthen-independence-1773298391", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }