Jokowi Asserts Health Protocols Are Non-Negotiable in 2020 Election
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8 September 2020 13:51 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - President Joko 'Jokowi' Widodo asserted the importance of implementing health protocols in the 2020 Regional Head Elections or Pilkada amid the Covid-19 pandemic. He lamented violations that occurred during the democracy process.
“Public safety, public health is everything. So there is no bargaining in the health protocols,” said the President during an online meeting on the preparations of the simultaneous election on Tuesday, September 8, 2020.
Many candidates still neglected the basic health principles, he said. The Election Supervisory Agency (Bawaslu) recorded 243 violations during the registration process of the regional head candidates.
Besides, the General Election Committee (KPU) discovered after the process that at least 37 candidates were tested positive for Covid-19 in 21 provinces.
“There is also a declaration event of candidate pairs later, by holding a music show attended by thousands of people, attracting crowds and bringing in the masses. This must be of our concern,” the President underlined.
Thus, Jokowi demanded the establishment of the Pilkada under strict health protocols, considering it could not be suspended until the Covid-19 pandemic ends.
“Because we don't know and any country does not know when this pandemic will end. So, the election must be held in a new normal way,” he said.
Read also: Jokowi Issues Policy on COVID-19 Vaccine Development Team
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