Jakarta –
Secretary General PDI Perjuangan Hasto Kristiyanto responded to the statement by the General Chair of the NasDem Party Solar Paloh related to the government more in favor of an open proportional system. Hasto said that PDIP prioritizes finding leaders who can solve people’s problems.
“Yes, for us, for PDIP, politics is driven by belief, just like we are looking for a leader, it is in the interests of the nation and state, not to seek a coat tail effect, as well as in recruiting legislative candidates what we are looking for is leadership capacity. in solving people’s problems and building the future of Indonesia,” said Hasto at the PDI Perjuangan DPP School, Lenteng Agung, South Jakarta, Thursday (23/2/2023).
Hasto admitted that he had no problem with Surya Paloh’s opinion. He said he would submit the decision to the Constitutional Court.
“So if Mr. Surya Paloh thinks like that, then we respect it. Same with the professors who are experts in their fields who earlier voiced the importance of closed proportionality, where do you want to go? We’ll leave it to the constitutional judges,” he said.
Hasto admits that he is ready for whatever the Court’s decision is. Because, according to him, PDIP is not a party that has legal standing for judicial review.
“In principle, the PDI Perjuangan, yes, we are ready, open or closed. Because we are not a party that has legal standing for judicial review. So we better leave it to the decision of the Constitutional Court,” said Hasto.
“With his statesmanship for the interests of the nation and state. We are waiting for a decision from the Constitutional Court, and PDI Perjuangan is ready to accept any decision from the Constitutional Court,” he continued.
Then, Hasto assessed that if there was a change in the electoral system, it would not affect the ongoing election stages. He said that the elections would still be held on time, even if the MK later decided on a closed proportional system.
“If empirically when in 2009, 2008 there was a judicial review in December 2008 a decision was taken, at that time the decision from the Constitutional Court was immediately effective as law,” he said.
“So that matters related to the implementation of elections on time are mandatory in nature, they cannot be shifted for whatever reason, so empirically of course it is possible,” he continued.
Moreover, according to him, the election will still take place one more year. Because of that, he said there is still a possibility for changes to the electoral system.
“Especially now that there is still one year to make it possible. But once again, PDI Perjuangan submits it to the Constitutional Court because we are not the party to carry out a judicial review,” he said.
Previously, the general chairman of the NasDem Party, Surya Paloh, brought up the issue of the electoral system after meeting with the general chairman of the Democratic Party, Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono (AHY). He said the government’s stance was clear in supporting elections with an open proportional system or selecting candidates.
Surya Paloh initially answered the question whether he asked President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) about the electoral system when he met some time ago. He admitted that he had never asked because the position of the Jokowi government was clear on this matter.
“I didn’t waste the opportunity, even though the 1 hour and 20 minutes seemed very short, so I didn’t mention this open and closed proportional issue because I know the government’s position is clear,” said Paloh during a press conference with AHY in DPP Democratic Party, Wednesday (22/2).
Paloh said Jokowi’s government definitely supports the upcoming election being held openly or by voting for the candidate’s picture. He was also grateful for that.
“The attitude of the government has given appreciation and support to be open. And I’m grateful for this,” he said.
Also watch Video: AHY Meets Surya Paloh, Affirms PD-NasDem Rejects Party Votes
(amw/azh)
