Expensive Regional Elections, Solution Is Not to Dismiss People's Rights

President Prabowo Subianto made an interesting statement while attending the 60th anniversary of the Golkar Party. He invited the leaders of the political parties present to improve the political system that spends tens of trillions for each election.

"I see that our neighboring countries are efficient. Malaysia, Singapore, India, once elect DPRD members, that's it, the DPRD elects the governor, the regent. Efficient, not spending money continuously like us," said the President. He emphasized that the money would be better used to improve public facilities such as schools and irrigation.

This statement immediately sparked heated debate in the public space, raising one fundamental question: Is our democracy regressing?

The 2024 simultaneous regional elections are said to have spent a budget of IDR 37.4 trillion. This figure could be the basis for Prabowo to offer the idea of ​​regional elections through the DPRD. However, sharp criticism emerged. Budget efficiency should not sacrifice the essence of democracy.

Direct regional elections give the people the right to choose their leaders. Since the reformation, regional heads from governors to mayors have been directly elected by the people. Returning elections to the DPRD is considered a step backwards towards New Order-style centralization.

Supporters of this idea, such as PAN and PKB, argue that regional elections through the DPRD can reduce money politics. The Minister of Law even stated that this idea has been discussed since the era of President Jokowi. However, criticism remains strong: is this system truly efficient without sacrificing legitimacy?

A friend provided an interesting illustration. He calculated that if the Governor of DKI Jakarta was elected by the DPRD in 2024, Ridwan Kamil might get 91 votes, while Pramono would only get 15 votes. On the other hand, in direct regional elections, Pramono has the potential to win 50.07% of the people's votes, while Ridwan Kamil only gets around 39%. This illustration could be right, or it could be less precise, but it shows how the people's legitimacy can be ignored in elections through the DPRD.

This discourse seems to benefit the political elite more. The DPRD, as the main actor, becomes the gateway to power controlled by political parties. This raises the question: Are the people's rights being taken away?

We need to reflect on our political system. Democracy is indeed expensive, but it does not mean sacrificing people's sovereignty. There are solutions that can be considered, such as improving the direct regional election system with strict supervision and reducing campaign costs.

Digital campaigns, for example, can be a cheap and effective alternative. In addition, law enforcement against money politics must be strengthened. With this step, democracy will not only be more efficient, but also of higher quality.

The discourse on regional elections through the DPRD is an ideological battle about the future of Indonesian democracy. Will democracy remain a tool of the people or return to being a tool of the elite? Direct regional elections, despite their shortcomings, are proof of people's sovereignty.

President Prabowo Subianto may have good intentions. However, good intentions alone are not enough. The courage to improve the system without sacrificing democratic principles is what we need. Democracy is not really about cheap or expensive, but about who is in power: the people or the elite.

In the history of this nation, the people have always been the main actors of change. Don't let them become spectators again. If democracy is a stage, then the people are the actors. Don't take away their rights. Because, without the people, democracy is just a name without meaning.