Deputy Chief Justice Saldi Isra delivering a keynote speech as well as opening the Technical Guidance Workshop on Procedural Law for Disputes on the Results of the Election of Governors, Regents and Mayors (PHPKada) for the General Election Commission Batch IV at the Tiger Balroom Royal Safari Hotel, Bogor, on Wednesday (9/18/2024) evening. Photo by MKRI/Panji.

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BOGOR (MKRI) — Deputy Chief Justice Saldi Isra delivered a keynote speech and opened the fourth batch of a workshop on the resolution of governor, regent, and major election results disputes of 2024 for the General Elections Commission (KPU) members. The event took place at the Royal Safari Hotel, Bogor, West Java Province on Wednesday evening, September 18, 2024.

Beginning his keynote speech, Justice Saldi emphasized that what was decided by the Court was only known to the nine justices and one substitute registrar. So, if there is an issue of a leaked decision, it may be due to the analysis of the situation and the hearing process. "It could be that what is guessed is true or not true," said Justice Saldi.

Justice Saldi revealed that the Court, KPU (General Election Commission), and Bawaslu (General Election Supervisory Body) face the difficult task of conducting  regional head elections (pilkada) simultaneously in 2024. This year's regional head elections will be held in 545 regions in Indonesia. Regional head elections are held after the implementation stages of the presidential and legislative elections are completed. "So, there is no time to rest, with political pressure so high," said Justice Saldi.

Justice Saldi admits that this task is a tough job. However, according to him, this task is a great opportunity for the KPU and the Court to regain public trust. Because it cannot be denied that there is still a crisis of confidence in several state institutions, including the Court and  KPU. "This is a good and nice momentum for KPU, especially to restore trust," continued Justice Saldi.

Therefore, Justice Saldi suggested to use this momentum as capital to gain public trust. Moreover, KPU is an institution that plays a role in carrying out the democratic process. KPU must be able to prove to the public that elections can be held with the principle of independence. The practice of democracy can survive well if  KPU can prove to be an independent institution.

“Therefore, organizers must be ready. All of us, including the Court, are parties who have an interest in ensuring that all the political infrastructure that drives our democracy regains the trust of many people. Because of that, our task together, not only the task of KPU, Bawaslu, this also includes the task of the Court," said Justice Saldi.

Previously, KPU Chairman, Mochammad Afifuddin, said that this workshop was very important for the KPU, starting from the experience of holding the  regional head elections 2020 and also the  elections 2024. Then at the same time, PHPU and even the results of the  legislative elections 2024 have not yet been announced, we are already preparing for the upcoming  regional head elections 2024.

Afif also said that the Court on 20th  August 2024 decided on the age requirements for regional head election participants. At that time, Afif was taking part in the consolidation. "At that time we decided that KPU would follow up on the Court's decision by continuing to carry out consultations, consultations which we understand as procedures for implementation and harmonization," said Afifudin.

Afifudin also reminded that public trust to KPU is very difficult. He hopes that KPU officials will learn from experiences in the past. Therefore, Afif hopes that all KPU levels can express their duties as good organizers. Afif did not forget to appreciate the implementation of this technical guidance workshop for KPU. "We are the first history of simultaneous regional head elections and also the first history for ladies and gentlemen to deliver better elections, producing better people. "We are grateful for the technical guidance workshop this time, it will definitely be very useful for us at  KPU," stressed Afif.

The Acting Head of Center for Pancasila and Constitutional Education (Pusdik MK), Nanang Subekti, in his speech said that this technical guidance workshop was the 8th of a total of 17 technical guidance workshops that will be held by Pusdik MK in 2024. This workshop was attended by 392 participants from the KPU's legal and supervision division from 13 Provinces, Regency, and City.

Author            : Panji Erawan
Editor             : N. Rosi
Translator       : Donny Yuniarto (NL)

Disclaimer: The original version of the news is in Indonesian. In case of any differences between the English and the Indonesian versions, the Indonesian version will prevail.

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