Expert: Election Law Revision Must Reform KPU Institutions, DKPP Selection, and Bawaslu Accountability
The revision of the Election Law (UU Pemilu) is considered a crucial moment to strengthen the institutional framework of election organisers. Ida Budhiati, a lecturer at the Faculty of Law, Universitas Bhayangkara Jakarta, assessed that several aspects still require improvement, ranging from the selection mechanism for members of the Election Organiser Honour Council (DKPP) and strengthening the accountability of Bawaslu and DKPP, to the budgeting model of the General Elections Commission (KPU).
During a public discussion titled ‘Examining Potential Institutional Problems of the KPU for Future Implementation’ at the KPU RI office on Thursday (30/7), Ida stated that the formation of the KPU, Bawaslu, and DKPP was a design to guarantee independent and professional election organisers. ‘If we look at the legal politics of election administration in Indonesia, the lawmakers’ objectives are actually very noble. They desire the democratic process to run well through independent and professional election organisers,’ said Ida.
According to her, the independence of organisers cannot rely solely on individual integrity but must be safeguarded through a strong institutional system. ‘Humans can change due to situations and circumstances. Therefore, there must be a system to guard it, and that system is realised through the DKPP,’ she said.
Ida assessed that the revision of the Election Law needs to evaluate at least six aspects: institutional structure, duties and authority, appointment mechanisms, relations between election organiser institutions, accountability, and the budgeting system. She highlighted that the mechanism for appointing DKPP members is considered less transparent compared to the open selection process for KPU and Bawaslu members. ‘The appointment mechanism for DKPP members is still lacking in transparency and does not provide adequate space for public participation. The names of candidates should be announced to the public so that people can provide input regarding their track records, integrity, and competence,’ she stated.
Furthermore, Ida believes the accountability of Bawaslu and DKPP also needs to be strengthened. She noted that the KPU is often the party being sued, even though many of its decisions are merely follow-ups to Bawaslu rulings. ‘Bawaslu now issues rulings, not just recommendations. If that is the case, it is the Bawaslu ruling that should be tested, not continuously the KPU’s decision,’ she said. She also proposed that DKPP products have a clear testing mechanism and that the tripartite forum of the KPU, Bawaslu, and DKPP be reactivated to strengthen coordination among election organiser institutions.
On the other hand, Ida assessed that the KPU’s budgeting model needs to be adjusted to its status as a permanent institution that continues to work outside election stages. ‘The constitution affirms that election organisers are national, permanent, and independent. If the institution is permanent and works all the time, the budgeting model should also be permanent,’ she said. According to Ida, institutional and budgetary reforms are important so that the KPU can carry out its election administration functions more effectively while strengthening the quality of democracy in the future. ‘Therefore, I think the budgeting issue must be a serious concern in the upcoming law revision. Nevertheless, I see that the KPU has so far tried to work effectively and efficiently in utilising the available budget,’ she said.