PSU Pilkada Fully from APBD, Development in 24 Regions Could Be Disrupted

JAKARTA, KOMPAS – The decision to fund the re-voting of Regional Head Elections in 24 regions entirely from the Regional Revenue and Expenditure Budget is feared to disrupt regional spending. Moreover, previously, local governments had already been asked by the central government to streamline their budgets. The disruption to regional spending could impact public services and development.

The Executive Director of the Regional Autonomy Implementation Monitoring Committee (KPPOD), Herman N Suparman, stated that based on data from the Ministry of Home Affairs (Kemendagri), the budget requirements for the re-voting (PSU) of regional head elections (Pilkada) in 24 regions vary between Rp 1 billion to hundreds of billions of rupiah.

The largest budget requirement is for Papua Province, where the need exceeds Rp 100 billion. "The amount of more than Rp 100 billion is quite a remarkable figure amidst budget efficiency," he stated.

Before being required to allocate budgetary needs for PSU, regions had already been asked by the central government to streamline their budgets as a follow-up to the instructions of President Prabowo Subianto. Now, with the new burden of organizing PSU, regions, particularly the 24 local governments (pemda) where PSU is being held, will face increasing strain on their regional budgets (APBD).

Herman is also concerned that the impact of these burdens may disrupt regional spending, particularly the budget for public services and development expenditures. The implementation of budget efficiency policies from the central government alone has already required regions to adjust several of their policies or programs. Moreover, with the presence of PSU, regions will certainly need to make further adjustments.

He also criticized the numerous PSU as a result of poor election management by regional election organizers. According to KPPOD records, PSU was mandated due to administrative issues such as the authenticity of diplomas, terms of office exceeding regulations, and so forth.

"The main issue lies in the capacity and integrity of election organizers. I doubt the selection process for candidates of the regional KPU and Bawaslu because they are neither competent nor capable of performing their functions effectively. Ultimately, they harm regional development. This is because, like it or not, regional governments have to allocate resources for something that is essentially unnecessary," he stated.

In the 2024 Pilkada results dispute decision on February 25, 2025, of the 24 regions requested to hold a PSU, 14 regions were requested to carry out a PSU for the entire region, and 10 other regions a PSU in some TPS. In addition, 11 regions required to hold a PSU were requested to replace candidates or candidate pairs because they were disqualified by the Constitutional Court.

The regions that are implementing PSU throughout the region are the Provinces of Papua, Boven Digoel, Mahakam Ulu, Pesawaran, Palopo City, and South Bengkulu. Then, the cities of Banjarbaru, Pasaman, Tasikmalaya, Empat Lawang, Serang, Kutai Kartanegara, North Gorontalo, and Parigi Moutong.

The regions that implemented PSU in some TPS were North Barito, Magetan, West Bangka, and Siak. Next were Buru, Sabang City, Talaud Islands, Banggai, Bungo, and Taliabu Island.

At the Presidential Palace Complex in Jakarta, Home Affairs Minister Tito Karnavian said that the budget requirements for the PSU Pilkada were entirely taken from the APBD. Not a single region requires funds from the State Budget (APBN) because the APBD is still sufficient after carrying out efficiency and budget reallocation.

"We are digging into areas where the budget is inefficient. We are asking for cuts and reductions for things that are not necessary for PSU," he said.

According to Tito, there are two PSU financing models. First, the budget comes entirely from the district/city APBD. This financing model is mainly for regions that hold PSU only in some polling stations.

The second model involves PSU funding sourced from the district/city APBD and supplemented by the provincial APBD. This financing is only applicable to districts/cities with limited budgets that are unable to meet the full funding requirements for PSU. Regions utilizing this funding model from district/city and provincial APBD are generally those conducting PSU across their entire territory.

KPU member Idham Holik when contacted, confirmed that all local governments in their regions requested to hold PSU, have met the budget requirements for PSU. The Papua Provincial Government, for example, has signed a regional grant agreement (NPHD) with the local KPU, worth Rp 109 billion, for the implementation of PSU.

"Based on the results of the review by prioritizing the principle of efficiency, the budget requirement for PSU in Papua Province is IDR 109 billion. The available budget is IDR 47 billion, and now the Papua Provincial Government has agreed to cover the shortfall by making an addendum of additional budget of IDR 62 billion," explained Idham.

With the budget already sufficient, the KPU appealed to the provincial, district and city KPU in 24 regions to follow the official letter issued by the KPU in order to implement the Constitutional Court's decision to hold a PSU. The official letter contains technical instructions and implementation of the PSU.

In addition, Idham reminded that the implementation of the PSU as a follow-up to the Constitutional Court's decision opens up space for participation from all parties. With the participation of all stakeholders, the PSU can be implemented smoothly and better.

"Therefore, we hope that all parties can participate according to their respective capacities," he added.

The KPU also hopes that all parties can maintain the PSU implementation process in 24 regions scheduled to be held between March 22 and August 9. The implementation process, for example, is expected not to be marred by money politics practices. "In addition, there are also other practices that have the potential to eliminate the freedom or sovereignty of voters in casting their votes at the TPS later," he said.