TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Commission A of the Jakarta city legislative council and the office of National and Political Unity (Kesbangpol) agreed to increase the budget for political parties clinching seats in the legislative by almost 100 percent.

“A budget additional for the political party from Rp14 billion to Rp27 billion,” said Commission A chair Mujiono, reporting the results of the 2020 Regional Budget Plan during the Budgetary Board meeting on Monday, December 9.

Mujiono outlined that the hike in the yearly funding was set at Rp5,000 per vote from Rp2,500 per vote. This will affect the budget ceiling of the commission from Rp10.405 trillion to Rp10.419 trillion.

Kesbangpol's head Taufan Bakri said that the budget hike was aimed at improving the quality of democracy in the capital and denied it contradicted to the budget efficiency pursued by the city. “In light of efficiency, it means we have to develop our democracy so people will move forward,” he added.

According to Taufan, the increase was in line with the Government Regulation No. 1/2018 on Political Party Fundings, in which stipulated that parties winning seats in the regional legislative would be funded at Rp1,200 per vote and the region was allowed to raise the amount up to Rp12,000 per vote based on its financial capacity at the approval of Home Affairs Minister.

The Jakarta Budgetary Board head Prasetio Edi Marsudi confirmed that the budget for political party funding of Rp27 billion was approved during the board meeting on Monday, December 9.

TAUFIQ SIDDIQ