President Jokowi Holds Meeting to Discuss Preparations for Regional Elections

Jakarta (Antara Bali) - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) chaired a meeting here on Thursday to discuss the preparations made for the simultaneous regional head elections, scheduled to be held in December this year.

"The simultaneous regional head elections will be held smoothly and safely on December 9. I now want a report on the progress made since our last discussion on June 8," Jokowi said.

The president wanted reports on the funds allocated to implement security measures during the elections and on the limited reconciliations among rivals within the Golkar Party as well as the United Development Party (PPP) so they can nominate candidates for the polls.

At the meeting, they also discussed the request of the General Elections Commission (KPU) to deploy some civil servants to assist in the local election offices.

"The progress reports will be presented at the meeting," he affirmed.

Moreover, the head of state hopes that the registration process for candidates standing for regional head positions, which will begin late July, runs well and smoothly.

The meeting was attended by Vice President M. Jusuf Kalla, Home Affairs Minister Tjahjo Kumolo, Finance Minister Bambang Brodjonegoro, Justice and Human Rights Minister Yasona Laoly and Minister/State Secretary Pratikno.

Also Cabinet Secretary Andi Widjajanto, Chief of the National Police General Badrodin Haiti, Chief of the National Defense Forces General Gatot Nurmantyo, Chief of the National Intelligence Agency Sutiyoso, and Chairman of the KPU Husni Kamil Manik, among others.

Indonesia is set to hold 269 regional head elections simultaneously on December 9, including nine gubernatorial elections, 224 district head elections, and 36 mayoral elections.

Furthermore, on July 13, some four months before the elections, the Supreme Audit Agency (BPK) had reported to the parliament the 10 results of its review of the planned implementation of the elections.

The audit was carried out following a request made by Commission II of the House of Representatives to the BPK in May.

The agency had found that the budget allocation for the regional elections was not in line with existing regulations; Regional Grant Agreement documents on the polls had either not been prepared in several regions or were not in accordance with regulations; and the plan on the utilization of the elections grant budget was did not comply with existing regulations. (WDY)