PAN Legislator: Empty Box Phenomenon Evidence Political Parties Fail To Prepare Cadres To Participate In Pilkada

JAKARTA - Member of Commission II of the DPR from the PAN faction, Guspardi Gaus, assessed that the rise of single candidates in the Regional Head Election (Pilkada) was a failure of political parties in capturing and preparing competent cadres who could potentially damage democracy.

Therefore, Guspardi appealed to the public to continue to exercise their voting rights. Although there are only single regional head candidates (cakada) or empty box phenomena.

"The blank box phenomenon reflects the failure of political parties in preparing competent cadres to compete at the regional level. This is exacerbated by the emergence of a major coalition that obscures competitive choices and competition," said Guspardi Gaus in his statement, Tuesday, September 17.

The West Sumatra electoral district PAN legislator emphasized that Pilkada, which involves empty boxes, can weaken the legitimacy of elected leaders and relations between leaders and the people. This phenomenon, according to him, can also exacerbate public distrust of political institutions.

"Although the Pilkada with a single candidate against an empty box can be continued according to regulations, it is important to ensure that the process is transparent and fair to maintain public trust and the quality of democracy," explained Guspardi.

"The name pilkada is the election of regional heads, not empty boxes that are fought. If you are like this, the name does not educate voters, it destroys democracy," he added.

According to the member of the Commission in the DPR who is in charge of the Election and Regional Head Election issues, it is necessary to prepare for the implementation of the regional elections if the empty box wins in the area. Guspardi assessed that the re-cadda will be one of the alternatives that must be done in 2025 if the empty box wins against the single head of head.

"So there must be an option to prepare for the next election, and the fastest will be carried out in 2025," he said.

In addition, Guspardi encouraged the revision of regulations, which in this case is the Revision of the Regional Head Election Law (Pilkada) to avoid the phenomenon of single-ranking regional heads fighting empty boxes.

"In the future, regulations must be improved, namely the Pilkada Law. If the election regulations are changed, it can close the opportunity for a single candidate," said Guspardi.

"It must be avoided that there are only candidates. If there are regulations, the party is helpless, the candidate pair can't do anything," he added.

Guspardi explained that the emergence of single candidates was caused by current regulations that paved the way. According to him, the decision of the Constitutional Court Number 60/2024 which lowers the threshold for nominating regional heads from political parties and coalitions of political parties is said to be able to change the pattern and relationship between coalitions of political parties.

"Because even though there is a Constitutional Court decision, there are still many regions in Indonesia that are only followed by single candidates. It shows that the candidate pair is not ready to run, not ready to win and lose, we are ready to lose if we go forward. Don't just be ready to win," explained Guspardi.

Guspardi assessed that the number of single candidates also reflected the failure of political parties in carrying out regeneration. Because, he said, it shows that there are no qualified cadres to be promoted by political parties in the Pilkada.

"If there is a single candidate, it means that the 18 parties failed to provide political education to the cadres and administrators. So it dwarfs the party itself, why not advance its cadres," he said.

For this reason, Guspardi encourages the revision of the Pilkada Law and the strengthening of political parties. Because if many people later choose empty boxes, it cannot be blamed and is considered a system failure.

" Choosing an empty box is still the right of voters who feel they do not match the candidate pairs offered," said Guspardi.

As is known, although the KPU has extended the registration period for candidates, until the end of the extension period there are still many regions that have single candidates. The Indonesian KPU noted that for the time being there were 35 regions that only had single candidates after the Pilkada registration was extended on September 12-14, 2024.

Guspardi pun meminta KPU untuk meningkatkan sosialisasi dan edukasi kepada masyarakat dan partai politik tentang pentingnya partisipasi dalam Pilkada. Termasuk memberikan pemahaman tentang proses pencalonan dan manfaat dari memiliki lebih dari satu calon.

"Serta yang tidak kalah penting, saya mengimbau kepada masyarakat agar menggunakan hak suaranya. Jangan golput dalam pilkada karena ini menyangkut tentang kepemimpinan di daerah masing-masing,” pungkas Guspardi.

Guspardi also asked the KPU to increase socialization and education to the public and political parties about the importance of participation in the Pilkada. This includes providing an understanding of the nomination process and the benefits of having more than one candidate.

"As well as those that are no less important, I appeal to the public to exercise their voting rights. Do not abstain from the regional elections because this concerns leadership in their respective regions," concluded Guspardi.