KPK Supports Parties Funds' Hike if Law Revised

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) supports the agenda to increase political parties' funds from the government. KPK director of education and community services Giri Suprapdiono said that funding political parties' operations could be a solution to reduce the level of political corruption.

"Let's build a democracy without corruption," Giri told Tempo, Sunday, December 1.

The KPK conducted a review in 2016 about political parties' funds sourced from the State Budget (APBN). Giri said that at the time the KPK recommended a figure of Rp10,706 per vote with a gradual increase over 10 years.

"Or up by roughly 107 percent every year," said Giri.

In 2016, political party funds sourced from the State Budget were set at Rp108 per vote. The government then increased the number to Rp1,000 per vote through Government Regulation No. 1 of 2018 on the Financial Assistance to Political Parties.

This time, the government plans to increase the fund, with the National Development Planning Agency (Bappenas) mentioning a figure of around Rp6 trillion, which is likely to be taken from the 2023 State Budget.

If divided proportionally to nine parties in parliament, the amount is Rp48,000 per vote, or up by 48 times of today's allocation.

Giri stressed that the increase in political party funds must be accompanied by a revision of the Political Party Law. He argued that it is not enough to ratify it through a government regulation's amendment only—like what happened before. 

"The SIPP can be applied perfectly if there is a revision of the Political Party Law, there is a balance of rights and obligations that are regulated," he said.

BUDIARTI UTAMI PUTRI