TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Director of the Democracy and Electoral Empowerment Partnership (DEEP) Indonesia, Neni Nur Hayati, said the Ethics Council of the Election Organization (DKPP) should dismiss the General Elections Commission (KPU) chairman, Hasyim Asy'ari, from his position.

“It's very unfortunate and truly ironic. The DKPP should have had the courage to decide to dismiss the KPU chairman from his position,” Neni said in response to the DKPP's decision that Hasyim had violated ethics for accepting Gibran Rakabuming Raka's vice presidential candidacy in the 2024 election.

According to Neni, this is not the first time Hasyim has committed an ethical violation, which proves that the latter has harmed the electoral process and democracy. If this continues, it will lead to public mistrust of the election organizers and delegitimize the ongoing electoral process.

“If we cannot be independent and side with certain political interests, the public will cast doubts about the election organizers,” she stressed, adding that Hasyim should be ashamed when numerous academics call for ethics amid the heated presidential race.

Neni also urged the KPU chairman to admit his ethical violations and step down from his position.

Earlier today, Feb. 5, the DKPP declared that Hasyim Asy’ari and KPU members, namely Betty Epsilon Idroos, Mochammad Affifudin, Persadaan Harahap, Yulianto Sudrajat, Idham Holik, and August Mellaz, had violated the code of ethics by accepting the registration of President Joko Widodo's eldest son, Gibran Rakabuming Raka, as a vice presidential candidate.

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