Indonesia halts regional elections due to COVID-19

Indonesian President Joko Widodo has signed a law on postponing the 2020 regional elections, which were scheduled for September, due to the COVID-19 outbreak.

Wednesday, May 06, 2020 09:44

Indonesia halts regional elections due to COVID-19 ảnh 1

Indonesian President Joko Widodo (Photo: https://exbulletin.com/)

Jakarta (VNA) - Indonesian President JokoWidodo has signed a law on postponing the 2020 regional elections, which were scheduled for September, due to theCOVID-19 outbreak.

Under the law issued on May 4, the Indonesian Governmentdecided to reschedule the simultaneous elections in 270 regions to December becauseof the unnatural disaster.

However, if the disaster is not yet over at the end of the year, the elections canstill be halted and rescheduled after the disaster ends.

Previously, the Indonesian Government and House of Representatives approved aplan to hold the regional elections on December 9 instead of September 23 dueto the COVID-19 epidemic.

However, TitiAnggraini, Executive Director of the Association for Elections and Democracy, said the elections are difficult to take place as schedule as the diseasecontinues.

Meanwhile, IndonesianPolitical Review (IPR) Executive Director Ujang Komaruddinhas proposed to postpone the elections until 2021 or 2022 to have more time forpreparation.

If everything takes place as originally planned, this will be the largest regionalelection in Indonesia’s history when it is held simultaneously in 270 regionsacross the country./.

VNA

#regional elections #Indonesian President Joko Widodo #COVID-19 #simultaneous elections #unnatural disaster #Vietnamplus #Vietnam News #Vietnam News Agency

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