Gerindra Supports the Proposal for Regional Heads to be Elected by the DPRD, Singgung the High Cost of Political Cakada

JAKARTA - The Gerindra Party supports the proposal for regional heads at the governor level to the regent/mayor to be elected by the Regional Representative Council (DPRD) in each region.

Secretary General of the DPP of the Gerindra Party Sugiono said that the election of regional heads by the DPRD should be considered for implementation.

"Gerindra is in a position to support efforts or plans to implement this election by the DPRD at the level of regent, mayor or at the governor's level," said Sugiono in a written statement received in Jakarta, Monday, quoted by Antara.

He said, the Gerindra Party sees the election of regional heads through the DPRD can be more efficient than what has been implemented so far.

He explained that the election through the DPRD could be more efficient starting from the process or time of screening candidates, mechanisms, budgets and political costs until the election was carried out.

In 2015, according to him, the grant funds from the Regional Budget for the implementation of the election were almost Rp7 trillion. The nominal continued to increase in a not insignificant amount, until in 2024, the grant funds from the Regional Budget for the implementation of the election were more than Rp37 trillion.

"That is a number that can be used for other things that are more productive, efforts to improve the welfare and economy of the people. I think this is something we need to consider," he said.

Likewise with the political costs required by the regional head candidates (cakada) so far. He assessed that political costs tend to be expensive, even often becoming an obstacle for a competent figure to become a regional head.

"this is also what we have to evaluate, we have to find out how people who really have the ability to serve their community, serve the nation and the state, can advance without being hindered by the numbers and the cost of the campaign that is extraordinary," said the Foreign Minister.

He assessed that the election of regional heads through the DPRD also did not eliminate the essence of democracy, because the candidates were chosen by legislators who were the people's choice in the general election. In fact, the election of regional heads by the DPRD can be directly supervised by the public more strictly.

"If, for example, a political party wants to survive or remain present in these areas, of course they must follow what their constituents want," he said.

In addition, he believes that the election of regional heads by the DPRD also reduces the potential for polarization that often occurs in society. Gerindra also supports the plan to hold elections through the DPRD to be discussed and studied in depth by involving all elements and elements in determining the best mechanism.

The public, he said, must still have access to monitor the aspirations conveyed by their representatives in the legislative body.

"Don't let this then develop into something that is closed," he said.