Indonesia passes bill on amendments to electoral law to facilitate upcoming elections in four new regions of Papua.

The House of Representatives in Indonesia has passed a bill on the stipulation of government regulations in lieu of law (Perpu) Number 1 of 2022 concerning amendments to the Law Number 7 of 2017 on general elections. The Perpu was passed in response to the establishment of four new autonomous regions (DOB) of Papua – South Papua, Central Papua, Papua Pegunungan, and Southwest Papua. The changes in the Perpu include the formation of election organizers in the new autonomous region provinces, the schedule for the election campaign, and elections in the new capital city of Nusantara in 2024. Ahmad Doli Kurnia, the chairman of the House’s government commission, explained the changes before the ratification. Tito Karnavian, the Home Affairs Minister, represented the government in the plenary session and explained that the Perpu for general elections is a form of the DPR and the government’s commitment to providing legal certainty and supporting the 2024 election stages. The Perpu provides a legal umbrella for all stakeholders in the holding of elections, especially for the four new autonomous regions in Papua and West Papua, so that they run smoothly and democratically.