The Politics of Love

The General Elections Commission (KPU) has set the voting day on February 14, 2024. This appointment marks the day of the transfer of power for the President, the People's Representative Council (DPR), and Members of the Regional Representative Council (DPD). On the same day, the whole world celebrates the day of love. Love Day. The day we know as Valentine's Day.

The KPU determines the voting day based on several considerations. The first consideration is juridical considerations. The KPU as the owner of the technical administration of elections in accordance with the mandate of the Election Law has absolute authority over election procedures and technicalities. Juridically regulated by Article 167 of the Election Law, the KPU is free to determine the day, date and time of voting and counting votes.

Because the Commission must consider many things. The determination of the polling day must be in accordance with the end of the term of office of the President and Vice President, DPR, DPD, and DPRD. Furthermore, the KPU considers the stages of the General Election Result Dispute (PHPU) at the Constitutional Court.

We need to know that the absolute power of the KPU in choosing technical elections is strengthened by the Constitutional Court through Decision Number 92 of 2016. Thus, the Lawmakers, namely the Government together with the DPR can only make proposals during the Hearing Meeting (RDP). Likewise, the Election Organizing Honorary Council (DKPP) and the General Elections Supervisory Body (Bawaslu). All relevant institutions in the administration of elections only provide suggestions and opinions. The final decision on the determination of the day rests with the KPU.

Considering a Good Day

The second consideration is the choice of day. The KPU cannot choose a day that will increase the vacation time for workers, employees, TNI, Polri, and State Civil Apparatus (ASN). Elections also cannot be held on holidays such as red dates, Saturdays or Sundays. However, the KPU cannot choose Monday or Friday. The reason is that the election cannot be used as an excuse to extend the holiday period. Don't let there be a national squeeze day, a term known during the New Order period to extend holiday time.

If you choose Friday, ASN and Workers/Employees/Labourers will have holidays starting from Friday to Sunday. If the KPU chooses Thursday for polling day. There are fears that people will make Friday a National Squeezing Day. So there will be a potential long holiday starting Thursday to Sunday.

The same reason fell on Monday with the same situation on Friday. Or reject Tuesday because there is a potential for many parties to take leave on Monday. Because of all the considerations and calculations of the day. So, the KPU determined Wednesday to avoid people thinking about vacations or going home.

Politics of Love

In the end, all parties accepted KPU RI Decree Number 21 of 2022 which was set on Monday, January 31, 2022. The KPU decided on the day and date of voting. The election was held on February 14, 2024. The election was considered ideal after accepting the offer from the government and the DPR. Choices that have meaning in the social life of the world community.

One of the reasons for choosing the day and date of the election ballot is cultural or customary considerations. In the formation of law or legal reform, in addition to philosophical and juridical or historical reasons. A legal product also considers sociological reasons.

The sociological basis takes data and information about a habit or event that develops in society. Or, how the law will be accepted by society. KPU regulations as one of the technical legal products that essentially regulate voting day need to consider the sociological meaning of that day.

The other side of the determination of the voting day is an effort to prevent political divisions. Everyone knows how the political division has been since the 2014 and 2019 elections. Almost all social media are like producers of hate speech. Spread of disinformation or fake news. War between supporters that erodes the substance of democracy for the election of a mutually agreed leader.

If every party participating in the election and their supporters interpret the meaning of the day of love. We can reduce the potential vulnerability of the 2024 election. Vulnerability must be transformed into love between supporters, parties and candidate pairs.

On that date, people around the world celebrate Valentine's Day. A day where everyone tries to prove affection for loved ones. Today, all hearts including the hearts of politicians are expected to be more cold and loving.

Not the strong rulers with the political divisions we would expect to lead the government. However, all the people who love the leader can lead the people.