Banten 2024 Pilkada: Don't Just Change Dynasty

Prospective Governor of Banten Andra Soni and his wife while voting at TPS 29 Ciledug Tangerang City, Wednesday (27/11/2024). (ANTARA/Irfan/am)

JAKARTA The name of the candidate for Governor of Banten Airin Rachmi Diany is overshadowed by the issue of political dynasties ahead of the 2024 Banten Pilkada. According to the news, this issue that was already attached to him was one of the causes of the defeat of former Miss Indonesia finalists in 1996.

Airin's name has high electability and popularity before voting. Even in September, the Indonesian Survey Institute (LSI) noted that the electability of the Airin-Ade Sumardi pair was up to 70 percent, while his opponent, Andra Soni-Dimyati Natakusumah, only got tens of percent.

However, Airin's high electability is not in line with the quick count results or quick count after the voting on Wednesday (11/27/2024). The voice of the sister-in-law of the former Banten Governor, Ratu Atut Chosiyah, surprisingly fell, well below the electability figure two months before the day of H.

A number of observers admitted that they could not explain the exact reason for Airin's defeat in the Banten Pilkada. However, President Prabowo Subianto's endorsement to Andra Soni-Dimyati is believed to have succeeded in raising the vote for the pair number two.

In addition to Prabowo's support, the issue of political dynasties is also said to have eroded the votes acquired by the Airin-Ade pair.

So far, Airin Rachmi Diany has been identified with a political dynasty in Banten. He is the brother-in-law of the Governor of Banten for two terms, 2007-2012 and 2012-2017, Ratu Atut Chosiyah, who went to prison for bribery by former Chief Justice of the Constitutional Court Akil Mochtar. Airin's husband, Tubagus Chaeri Wardana, has also been jailed for corruption.

The political power of the Queen Atut's family in Banten Province was built by her father, Chasan Sochib. He is a Golkar politician who is also a businessman and community leader in Banten who previously rejected the breakdown of Banten from West Java.

But when Banten officially became a province in 2000, its family made a profit. Starting with Ratu Atut being elected as Deputy Governor of Banten in 2001. He later served as Acting Governor of Banten in 2004 after Djoko Munandar, who was paired with him, was caught in a corruption case.

Since then, the power of the Chasan Sochib family in Banten has become stronger. Atut was even elected governor of Banten for two consecutive terms, 2007-2012 and 2012-2017.

The influence of the Chasan Sochib family, especially Atut, continues to grip even though he has to languish in prison. Atut's son, Andika Hazrumy, was elected Deputy Governor of Banten for the 2017-2022 period.

This family power has spread to the district and city levels. His younger brother, Ratu Tata Chasanah, has served as Regent of Serang for the last two periods. Airin himself was elected Mayor of South Tangerang for the 2011-2016 and 2016-2021 periods.

In the 2024 Banten Pilkada, Airin Rachmi Diany was not the only one from the Chasan Sochib family who fought in the Banten political arena. Atut's son, Andika Hazrumy, came forward as a candidate for the Serang Regent. Atut's half-brother, Ratu Ria Maryana, ran as a candidate for Mayor of Serang. Then Pilar Saga Ichsan, the son of Queen Tatu Chasanah, ran as a candidate for Deputy Mayor of South Tangerang.

Panji Anugrah Permana, a local political expert from the Department of Political Science, FISIP University of Indonesia (UI) said that in the election, the trend of dynasticism tends to rise. But the power of political dynasties is not a guarantee to win, so according to Panji it is not something surprising that political dynasties lose in the elections.

The opportunity is 50:50, dynasties are not always synonymous with success. Indeed, dynastics have big capital because this involves networking, but it is not the main key to victory," Panji told VOI.

Panji gave an example of the 2020 Cilegon Mayor Election, when Ratu Ati Marliati lost. Ratu Ati is the daughter of Tb Aat Syafaat, Mayor of Cilegon for two terms. Then in the 2024 Serang Regent election, Atut Andika Hazrumy's son who was paired with Nanang Supriatna lost the fast count version.

Executive Director of the Indonesian Public Institute (IPI) Karyono Wibowo assessed that the issue of political officialism was not very significant in Airin's defeat in the Banten Pilkada, especially in grassroots voters.

This issue, said Karyono, will only be considered among critical voters, using reason, and has enough reference. However, this number of voters is not too much.

"It was confirmed when the survey, Airin's electability was still high. This shows that the problem of political dynasties is not too cloudy in grassroots voters," said Karyono.

Talking about the political dynasty in Banten, Achmad Dimyati Natakusumah, the cawagub paired with Andra Soni could not actually be separated from this issue. The Dimyati family is the ruler in Pandeglang.

He himself served as Regent of Pandeglang for two terms, namely 2000-2005 and 2005-2009. After that, his power in Pandeglang was continued by Dimyati's wife, Irna Narulita, who served in the 2016-2021 and 2021-2024 periods.

Karyono Wibowo did not rule out concerns over the next political dynasty. For this reason, the participation of the community needs to be aware of Andra Soni's government.

"He is not part of a dynasty, instead he must stop dynastic politics. Do not let the tiger's mouth enter the mouth of the crocodile. This is more important," said Karyono.

Meanwhile, Panji Anugrah Permana said Banten politics could not be separated from dynastic practices. Because apart from it has been a long time, the Banten region is also not only controlled by one dynasty. There are at least three breeds that control Banten. Apart from the family of Queen Atut and Natakusumah, there is still a Jayabaya route that supports the Andra-Dimyati pair.

This pair was supported by Iti Octavia Jayabaya, who is a cadre of the Democratic Party. Iti is the son of former Lebak Regent Mulyadi Jayabaya, who served in 2003-2008 and 2008-2013. Iti continued his father's leadership in the 2014-2019 and 2019-2023 periods.

In the 2024 Banten Pilkada, the family of Dimyati and Jayabaya want to expand and maintain their political power. Raden Dewi Setiani, Dimyati's younger brother, is running as a candidate for the Regent of Pandeglang. He competed with Diana Drimawati Jayabaya, who is also the daughter of former Lebak Regent Mulyadi Jayabaya. Meanwhile, Mulyadi's son, Mochamad Hasbi Asyidiki Jayabaya, ran as a candidate for Regent of Lebak.

"This is an unavoidable phenomenon, Banten politics cannot be separated from the practice of dynastic politics. Cilegon, Serang, Pandeglang, Lebak, almost all dynastics," explained Panji.

"It could be that this has changed into a dynasty, or a new phase has changed to another dynasty. Andra Soni himself has not developed a political dynasty, so he does not yet know whether there will be a change in political dynasties, or even a new approach there is no dynastic politics in the context of the provincial level," he added.

The chairman of the Pandeglang KPU, Nunung Nur Azizah (right) handed over the mascot of the sura and suluh elections to the Regent of Pandeglang Irna Narulita (left) in the election carnival in Pandeglang Square, Monday (11/9/2023). (ANTARA/Rangga)

Meanwhile, Karyono Wibowo explained the reason for the proliferation of political dynasties because by constitutional regulation we do not prohibit it. Anyone, be it family, relatives can advance in contestation to seize positions elected by election.

But the impact of power controlled by certain dynastics is intertwined with oligarchy, resource control, and strategic positions in regional government positions that lead to development projects.

"This means that this violates the principle of justice. For example, in certain positions that other people should have the opportunity, because there is dynastic politics, this opportunity is closed. And this will also have an impact on the distribution of wealth which will lead to inequality," he said.

"But what's more important than that is actually how regional heads create the welfare of the Banten community, how to increase economic growth, increase people's income, reduce unemployment, make Banten more advanced than the previous regime, and increase the Human Development Index (HDI)," he concluded.