Party Registration Documents for Election Participants Must Be Signed by Chairman and Secretary General

The General Elections Commission of the Republic of Indonesia (KPU RI) has stated that registration documents for political parties aspiring to participate in general elections (Pemilu) must be signed by the party’s central leadership, namely the general chairman and secretary general (Sekjen). “Registration documents must be signed by the party’s central leadership. Generally, this refers to the general chairman and secretary general, or equivalent titles,” said KPU RI Commissioner Idham Holik at the KPU RI office in Central Jakarta on Wednesday. Idham made this statement following an audience with the Chairman of the DPP Petiga Muda Peduli, Indra Hakim Hasibuan, along with several Petiga Muda Peduli cadres. Idham explained that the rule regarding these documents is stipulated in Article 1 paragraph 15 of KPU Regulation (PKPU) Number 4 of 2022 on the Registration, Verification, and Determination of Political Parties as Election Participants. He also noted that the provisions in PKPU Number 4 of 2022 remain in effect without changes to the party registration mechanism. In addition to the signature requirement, the audience also discussed fulfilling the 30% female representation criterion in the party’s central management structure. On this matter, Idham explained that this requirement is mandated by the Political Parties Law, particularly Article 2 paragraph 2 and Article 7, as a condition for obtaining legal entity status from the Ministry of Law and Human Rights. “For the purposes of registration with the KPU, we follow Article 173 paragraph 2 letter e of the Elections Law. The norm on female representation refers to that article,” Idham stated. The youth wing of the United Development Party (PPP), Petiga Muda Peduli, visited KPU RI to seek clarification and legal certainty regarding the political party registration administrative process, particularly concerning the validity of management documents. Indra revealed dynamics within PPP related to the Decree (SK) for appointing acting provincial board chairmen (Plt Ketua DPW) at the regional level, which were only signed by the general chairman and deputy secretary general (wasekjen), not by the sekjen. Indra also welcomed the explanation provided by the election organiser. “Alhamdulillah, it has been clearly explained based on the Law that it must be the General Chairman and Sekjen. This explanation is very important to address the uncertainties that have existed so far,” said Indra.