PDIP Jakarta Rejects Regional Elections Elected by DPRD: Led to the Opinion of Democracy Setback

JAKARTA - Secretary of the PDIP faction at the DKI Jakarta DPRD Dwi Rio Sambodo said that his party rejected the discourse on regional head elections or local elections through DPRD appointments. The discourse on regional elections through direct elections was initially proposed by President Prabowo Subianto.

According to Rio, the change to indirect elections could be perceived by the public as a weakening of democracy if the current political system has not been improved.

“President Prabowo's discourse without direct election of regional heads through DPRDs, without the frills of efforts to improve the political system, is natural if it raises the opinion of the decline of Indonesian democracy,” Rio told reporters, Tuesday, December 17.

Rio views that the current Indonesian political system tends to be liberal and capitalistic-pragmatic. As if, according to him, the people are only the object of political mobilization of the rulers.

Thus, Rio emphasized that what must be prioritized is the strengthening of Party institutions as a forum for aspirations, articulation and aggregation of the people as well as the best cadres as prospective leaders.

“Our political and electoral system must still be dialectical, open to criticism and continue to strive for improvements in mechanisms both using the direct election system by the people and the representative system through the DPRD,” Rio explained.

Previously, Prabowo invited all chairmen and leaders of political parties who attended the 60th Anniversary of the Golkar Party in Bogor, West Java, Thursday, December 12, to improve the political system that costs tens of trillions in one or two days every election.

The discourse on regional head elections by DPRDs also emerged after President Prabowo Subianto alluded to the political system in Indonesia which is considered expensive and inefficient when compared to neighboring countries.

“I see that our neighboring countries are efficient. Malaysia, Singapore, India, once you elect a member of the DPRD, once you elect the DPRD, you elect the governor, you elect the regent. Efficient, no money out, money out, money out, like us,” Prabowo said.

Prabowo said Indonesia should not be ashamed to admit that the political system in the country might be too expensive. According to him, even the faces of winning regional head candidates look lethargic due to the high cost of politics.

“Those who win are lethargic, let alone those who lose. We must dare to correct ourselves, therefore I appreciate that your chairman is observant, I say he is smart. That's why Indonesian children must eat a lot of fish,” Prabowo said.