President Jokowi gives directives to participants of the National Consolidation Meeting (Rakornas) on the National Preparedness for Regional Elections, at the Jakarta Convention Center (JCC), Jakarta, Tuesday (08/20). (Photo by: PR/Rahmat)
President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo has praised the General Elections Commission’s (KPU) efforts in organizing the 2024 Presidential and Legislative Elections.
“I’d like to express my highest appreciation and utmost respect for the efforts of the KPU, from the central to regional levels, for successfully organizing all stages of the 2024 presidential and legislative elections in a safe, orderly, and smooth manner,” the President said at the National Consolidation Meeting (Rakornas) addressing the preparedness for the 2024 elections, at the Jakarta Convention Center (JCC), Jakarta, Tuesday (08/20).
Accordint to the President, the simultaneous elections were very challenging due to the various categories of elections and the large number of votes and polling stations.
“I understand that organizing simultaneous elections is extremely difficult, the biggest elections in our nation’s history. There are presidential elections, the House of Representatives elections, the Regional Representatives Council elections, then the provincial, regency, and municipal legislative council elections with a total number of valid votes of 164,227,475 votes spread across 822,699 polling stations,” he said.
For this reason, as a token of appreciation to all KPU members, President Jokowi has raised their incentive allowance by 50 percent.
“Thank God, I signed it yesterday. I know, I know that it is not President Jokowi whom you are waiting for; you are waiting for that one, I know. After I signed it yesterday, I realized that it has not been done since 2014. And, the formula for the increase is simple, calculate, calculate, calculate, then find it. And, yesterday, it was decided that the increase would be 50 percent,” the President said.
The President also warned the KPU members to prepare themselves because simultaneous elections will be held in 508 regencies/cities and 37 provinces in the near future.
“I know the fatigue has not dissipated. Right? Maybe you are still sore, still tired because you just finished the process at the Constitutional Court yesterday. But in a few days, we will enter the stage of simultaneous elections in 508 regencies/cities and 37 provinces. This is a tough task that we bear together,” he remarked. (TGH/ABD) (FI/EP)
