Once again, everyone is awaiting Megawati’s decision. #kbanews
THE voting has concluded. But the election is not yet complete. Who won? Wait until March 20. The official results will be announced by the General Elections Commission (KPU).
Once announced by the KPU, the public will know who the winner is. The losers may file a lawsuit. There are two paths available. First, the legal path. Losing candidates can file a lawsuit with the Constitutional Court (MK). This can relate to either the election results or the election process. The election results pertain to the vote count. The election process pertains to allegations of violations of the election law, including allegations of fraud.
If the plaintiff can present strong evidence to the MK, then the perpetrators of fraud can be disqualified. Is this possible? Very possible. This was demonstrated in the Lampung mayoral election in 2021. As long as there is strong evidence, the winner can be disqualified. Another note: The Constitutional Court judges must be neutral. Now, here’s the problem. The public has generally lost faith in the MK, as well as the KPU and Bawaslu. The irony!
Usually, strong evidence alone is not enough. Plaintiffs often have to bring a large number of supporters. What’s the purpose? To guard the Constitutional Court judges so they dare to make the right decision under a lot of pressure. When there’s, for example, one million supporters watching over, this can supply energy and strength to the judges to make bold decisions, including the courage to disqualify cheating candidates or to request a repeat election. Everything is still possible.
So, don’t rush to celebrate for the “quick count winner” just yet. Besides being unethical, it’s also not final. There’s still a possibility of change. Meanwhile, supporters defeated by the quick count also need not be sad and frustrated. There’s still a chance to challenge and change the presidential election results. The road ahead is long, perhaps steep and winding.
The second path is the political path. That is the right of inquiry, or it could also be the right of interpellation. This is a matter for members of the DPR (House of Representatives). They are the party people who sit in the legislature. The decision lies with the party chairpersons.
The supporters of Anies-Muhaimin and Ganjar-Mahfud are five parties. Namely PDIP, PPP, Nasdem, PKS, and PKB. They hold 314 seats in the DPR, about 54.60%. The right of inquiry or interpellation can be proposed by 25 DPR members across factions. After a plenary meeting supported by 5% + 1 members, the DPR can form an investigative team. They can summon state apparatus and officials, district heads, ministers, etc., for questioning. Now, the results of this investigation, the DPR can express its opinion. Including recommending disqualification against candidates proven to have cheated in a Structured, Systematic, and Massive (SSM) manner. Or it was decided to hold a repeat election.
The key to this political path lies with Megawati. The PDIP chairperson plays the most crucial role. Why? First, because among the five supporting parties, PDIP has the most seats in the DPR. Second, PDIP arguably feels the most significant impact. Having a presidential candidate, but its vote share dropped drastically. After all, President Jokowi himself is also a PDIP cadre.
Megawati has given a signal. Therefore, Ganjar said: he will pursue the “right of inquiry”. Ganjar would not dare speak without orders, or at least permission from Megawati. In PDIP, loyalty and discipline are paramount and held firmly by cadres.
In this case, the five parties supporting Anies and Ganjar meet in one interest, namely to challenge the election process which they believe had many violations. Structured, Systematic, and Massive. Or SSM. Through the MK route, it is often difficult to win because first, the time is too short. Second, they are not confident that the MK judges can be neutral. Even the requirements for presidential and vice-presidential candidates can be changed, let alone just proof of election results. That’s the logic developing in the public’s mind. Thus, they took the initiative to pursue the political path through the right of inquiry. This seems to align with the broader public aspiration. So that everything becomes clear.
For the people, the right of inquiry is not about winning or losing. It doesn’t matter who wins. But the main goal of the right of inquiry that the people support is to clean up the elections from the practice of abuse of power, hoped not to recur in future elections. If this is allowed to continue, the people worry it will keep repeating in the future and evolve into our political tradition. Every ruler will so freely use state instruments to achieve victory targets. Here lies the importance of the right of inquiry. It’s not only important for the candidates and their supporting parties but also for the people and the future of the nation.
If Megawati calls the chairpersons of PPP, Nasdem, PKS, and PKB for dinner at her house, for example, it’s almost certain they will come. Thus, the right of inquiry has hope to be brought to the DPR. This simultaneously responds to the cynical statement of Jimly Assidiqi: “Ganjar’s Right of Inquiry is just a bluff”.
The key lies with Megawati, the party chairperson who won the election three times in a row. Besides having solid and militant cadres and supporters. Will the right of inquiry continue? Once again, everyone is waiting for Megawati’s decision.
* Dr. Tony Rosyid, Political Observer and Columnist