Jokowi Issues Perppu to Regulate Elections in Four New Papuan Provinces

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo issued government regulation in lieu of law (Perppu) No. 1/2022 on elections, which among others, regulates the impact of four new provinces' establishment on the 2024 elections.

The regulation that amended Law No. 7/2017 was published on the Ministry of State Secretariat's official website on Tuesday, Dec. 13.

According to Jokowi, extraordinary policies and steps are deemed necessary to anticipate the impact of the formation of four new provinces - South Papua, Central Papua, Papua Pegunungan, and Southwest Papua - for the 2024 Election.

Hence, the 2024 election would run on schedule to create domestic political stability.

Also read: Southwest Papua Becomes Indonesia’s 38th Province

"As an implication of the formation of the provinces of South Papua, Central Papua, Papua Pegunungan, and Southwest Papua, it is also necessary to organize electoral districts and allocate seats for members of the House of Representatives (DPR), members of the Regional Representatives Council (DPD), and members of the Regional Legislative Council (DPRD) as well as general election organizers, so legal certainty needs to be given," he said.

In issuing the Perppu, the President also considered the need to make changes to several issues in Law No. 7/2017 related to the strengthening of election organizers, schedule for the electoral campaign for members of the DPR, DPD, DPRD, as well as presidential, and vice presidential candidates.

Some changes are also related to general elections in the capital city Nusantara as well as adjustments to electoral districts and the number of seats for Provincial DPRD members as a result of an increase in population.

The Perppu changes several provisions in the General Elections law, among others, the establishment of a regional elections commission (KPUD) in South Papua, Central Papua, Papua Pegunungan, and Southwest Papua.

Article 92A of the regulation stated that the Elections Supervisory Agency (Bawaslu) forms the regional Bawaslu in the four new provinces.