Fajarasia.co – The Chairperson of the Indonesian House of Representatives, Puan Maharani, attended the Launching of the 2024 Election Stages held by the General Elections Commission (KPU). According to him, the start of the 2024 general election today is proof that there is no longer room for the discourse of postponing the election.
“There is no discussion of a postponement. There was no discussion to stall, but it was clear from the start according to Law Number 7 of 2017 concerning General Elections that elections are held once every five years,” said Puan.
This was conveyed by Puan when giving a speech at the Launching of the 2024 Election Stages in Jakarta, Tuesday (14/6/2022) night. After that, Puan together with other state officials and election organizers both sounded the siren to signal the start of the 2024 Election Stage or 610 days before polling day.
Puan said that from the beginning the DPR, the Government, the KPU, and many elements of the community had committed that in 2024 elections must be held. However, he reminded all parties not to view elections in Indonesia as merely a democratic mechanism.
“We should not think of elections in Indonesia as just a five-year routine. Elections have a very strategic position in democratic life in Indonesia,” said Puan, wearing a red and black blouse.
“This strategic position is because the election is the embodiment of the practice of the 4th sile of Pancasila. Democracy led by wisdom in deliberation/representation,” added Puan.
Through elections, continued Puan, the elected leaders gain legitimacy from the people, formulate and formulate various laws needed to realize a divinity, fair and civilized life, maintain unity, and realize social justice for all Indonesian people. In addition, in the era of modern democracy, elections are also an arena for the people to elect executive leaders, starting from the Regent/Mayor, Governor, to the President and Vice President of the Republic of Indonesia.
“With her strategic position, the election results will greatly determine the face of the life of the nation and state, at least for the next 5 (five) years,” said the first woman who served as chairman of the DPR.
“On the other hand, it is like a double-edged sword, holding elections that are not in accordance with democratic principles, can also boomerang for the life of the nation and state,” he added.
Puan said that the founding fathers of the nation once warned this nation about the dangers of an election that is not carried out in accordance with democratic principles, it can actually become an arena for democracy that can break the unity of the Indonesian nation.
“In 1955, the First President of the Republic of Indonesia, Ir. Soekarno, once gave us a message. “General elections should not be a place for party struggles that can divide the Indonesian nation,” said Bung Karno’s grandson.
These days, Puan said, the atmosphere of the 2024 General Election has approached the concerns that Bung Karno had conveyed. Discussions in the public sphere about the dynamics leading to the 2024 General Election have been and are heavily colored by arguments that lead to unhealthy polarization among the nation’s children.
“Therefore, as Chair of the DPR-RI, I appeal to all elements of the nation to restore the nature and identity of the General Election as an instrument of democracy, which is oriented towards national unity and integrity. Not the other way around,” he said.
“Election is an arena of competition, not a battle among the nation’s children,” he stressed.
Puan said, if you can use an example, the actual result of the Legislative Election is to determine the ‘class leader’, ‘class-1 deputy chairman’, ‘class-2 deputy chairman’ and so on in the Parliament Building. Furthermore, these Class Chairs and Vice Chairs will become a unified teamwork to discuss various matters and decide what is best for the nation and state.
“I believe that there is no problem that cannot be discussed, as long as the spirit of deliberation is based on the spirit of Indonesian unity and integrity,” he said.
On the other hand, he continued, if the spirit of the election is brought to a battle that is oriented towards harming competitors, then the election will become an arena of unhealthy competition, which in the end could lead to the disintegration of the nation.
“Through the election, let us hear the voices, hopes and dreams of the Indonesian people about what they want the state to realize for the welfare of its people,” he said.****
