Youth Play an Important Role in Keeping Elections Smooth and Conducive

This causes the younger generation to become a critical part of society in creating a democratic climate.

This was revealed during a Political Discussion on the Development and Dynamics of Socio-Political Society in the City of Bandung Ahead of the 2024 General Election and the 2024 Simultaneous Regional Election at the Horison Hotel Bandung, Thursday 16 March 2023.

For this reason, the Bandung City Government (Pemkot) continues to anticipate and observe in order to maintain stability among the community.

The Head of Domestic Politics at the National Unity and Politics Agency (Kesbangpol), Nani Dwiyani said, this discussion was carried out to predict social, cultural and political dynamics ahead of the 2024 General Election and Pilkada and to create a healthy and quality democracy,

He said the potential for friction was always there, because the General Election and Pilkada events created dynamics and a sense of competition. However, his party continues to remind the public to minimize friction.

"Therefore we carry out discussions, socialization, and political education. Political education in the ranks of functionaries has also been carried out in several political parties," he said.

Furthermore, the Kesbangpol has continuously provided political education to political parties and the public.

"This education is carried out through direct outreach and through the mass media. We will also make an educational animated film related to preparations before and during the election. This animation is especially aimed at young voters," he said.

The Bandung municipal government, said Nani, has a facilitating function in maintaining a conducive election process. For this reason, the Bandung City Kesbangpol conducted a Political Party Safari.

"We visit political parties and have discussions so that the internal political parties prioritize the situation to remain conducive. Both within the party and between parties," he said.

Prior to the campaign period, the Bandung City Government through Kesbangpol will also carry out a Peace Declaration in the Context of Elections.

This declaration involved all political parties participating in the election and the mass organizations under them, Forkopimda, PPK, PPS, Panwaslu and Panwascam. Election participants and executors will jointly make a declaration to maintain a conducive Election.

Meanwhile, the Bandung City Development Acceleration Team, Muradi said, good democracy can be seen from the quality of political parties in the country.

Therefore, it is important for political parties to encourage young people to become political cadres and to regenerate

"If the younger generation does not channel their desire for actualization and politics, it will be channeled into criminal channels. Meanwhile, until now there has been no political party that has touched the hearts of young people," he said.

He hopes that political parties will be able to embrace young people, because young people can facilitate the path of democracy in Indonesia.

"There are 2 factors that influence political dynamics, namely young people who are critical and political parties that want to embrace young people," he said.

In the same place, a member of the Bandung City Bawaslu, Farhatun Fauziyyah, said that the points of vulnerability to elections include the social, political, community, election organizers who lack integrity, and the concentration of election participants.

Currently, he said, the city of Bandung is in a moderate position at the level of election vulnerability.

"Various strategic issues in the city of Bandung that need to be addressed, namely the neutrality of election organizers, polarization of society, mitigating the impact of using social media and fulfilling the right to vote and be elected," he said. (rob)**

Head of the Bandung City Communication and Informatics Agency

Yayan A. Brilyana