Jakarta – President Joko Widodo or Jokowi issued government regulation No. 1/2018 on financial assistance for political parties. "[The decree] was ratified by the president on January 4," said presidential palace spokesman Johan Budi Sapto Pribowo on Thursday, January 11.
The latest rule that changed the government regulation No. 5/2009 increases the financial assistance for political parties from Rp108 per vote to Rp1,000 per vote at the level of the House of Representatives (DPR).
Meanwhile, the increase in the level of Regional Legislative Councils (DPRD) is bumped up to Rp1,200 per vote for the provincial DPRD and Rp1,500 per voted for district or city DPRD.
The decree states that the allocations are prioritized for party members and public political education. The use of the grant will be audited by the Supreme Audit Agency (BPK). "Further fund will not be granted without the report submission," the document said.
DPR's chairman of Government Commission Zainuddin Amali said that the additional political party fund will push political parties to become more independent and improve its quality. He reasons that the current situation shows that political parties are controlled by financial networks from financiers.
– Hussein Abri