Pati Regent Demoted: Leader's Arrogance Shows Failure Of Understanding Position Responsibility

Masses who are members of the United Pati Community Alliance rallied in front of the Pati Regent's Office, Pati Regency, Central Java, Wednesday (13/8/2025). (ANTARA/Aji Styawan/tom/pri)

JAKARTA The Regent of Pati Sudewo suddenly became famous after he wanted to increase the Land Tax and Rural and Urban Buildings (PBB-P2) in his area by 250 percent in 2025. He was demonstrated by thousands of Pati residents, including his own supporters. Urged to put his position down.

On Wednesday (13/8/2025) thousands of Pati residents and the surrounding area packed the square to demand Sudewo withdraw. Sudewo had just come out to meet the masses under tight guard from the police rantis car at around 12.16 after the demonstrators waited since morning.

Despite being thrown with bottled drinking water and sandals, Sudewo refused to comply with the demands of the demonstrators to resign from their positions.

This was conveyed by Sudewo to reporters at his office, on the sidelines of the ongoing demonstration on Wednesday (13/8/2025).

"I was chosen by the people constitutionally and democratically, so I can't stop with such demands. There is a mechanism for everything," said Sudewo.

Political communication observer at Esa Unggu University, M Jamiluddin Ritonga, sees that Pati's trust in the Regent of Sudewo is at its lowest level.

"The desire of the Pati community to impeach the Regent is certainly possible if it meets the requirements," he said.

The chaos in Pati began because of the increase in the PBB to 250 percent. This policy was decided in the 2025 PBB-P2 intensification meeting led by Regent Pati Sudewo with the sub-district heads and members of the village head association at the regent's office.

However, the public has just received a notification sheet for the increase in the UN in the June-July period. It was during this period that the news went viral.

In the midst of strong protests from the public who rejected the increase in the United Nations 250 percent, Sudewo did not budge. In fact, he boasted that he would not back down a single step regarding the policy. Sudewo even emphasized that he was ready to face tens of thousands of demonstrators.

However, seeing the massive flow of rejection, he finally disallowed the decision and apologized for causing a commotion. However, tens of thousands of Pati residents continued to demonstrate demanding that Sudewo lay down his position.

Seeing the heavy pressure from residents, the Pati Regency DPRD agreed to form an inquiry right regarding the proposed formation of the impeachment committee for Regent Pati Sudewo.

Political communication observer Jamiluddin Ritonga assesses that the Pati people who demonstrated massively stemmed from Sudewo's arrogant attitude and controversial policies. So, even though they have apologized and canceled their policies, the Pati community still wants the regent to step down.

"The desire of the people of Pati to impeach the regent is certainly possible if they meet the requirements," said Jamiluddin Ritonga.

The impeachment, Jamiluddin Ritonga continued, could be taken by the DPRD if the regional head was judged to have violated the law or ethics. However, getting there requires a long process. Starting from the establishment of a Special Committee at the DPRD, then submitted a proposal to the President through the Minister of Home Affairs, then forwarded it to the Supreme Court (MA) to be assessed, and the final decision by the Minister of Home Affairs (Mendagri).

"This is certainly a constitutional way in impeaching the Regent. Therefore, in today's demonstration in the DPRD there should be strong evidence of violations of the law or ethics of the position carried out by the Regent of Sudewo," he continued.

By having these strong evidences, said Jamiluddin Ritonga, the Pati DPRD has a strong basis for forming a Special Committee to impeach the Regent. He continued, the special committee through the Pati DPRD will continue to go to the president through the Minister of Home Affairs and so on until later the Supreme Court gives an assessment.

If the Supreme Court considers that there is a violation of the law or ethics of the Position, then the Minister of Home Affairs can decide on the impeachment of the regent. So, if the people of Pati want to impeach their regents, they should go through a peaceful action by following the stages according to the legislation," said Jamiluddin.

"That way, the people of Pati have set an example to the Indonesian people for a good way of democracy in reducing their leaders," he added.

Meanwhile, political observer and public policy observer Nur Hidayat Sardini (NHS) highlighted the phenomenon of regional heads implementing policies without careful study. The NHS said that policies that caused public turmoil reflected mistakes in understanding the essence of public leadership.

"This is a mistake if regional heads are like that. In the end, people waste time and concentration just because they seem to make the policy for testing water or 'checking waves'. This is not true," said NHS, quoting Kompas.

Not only that, NHS also highlighted the attitude of the Regent of Sudewo who emphasized that he would not resign even though tens of thousands of residents were demonstrated. This attitude is considered counterproductive and does not reflect ethical leadership.

"Regional heads must avoid the public's challenging attitude. Not leaders have felt right on their own, then refuse to be criticized," NHS said.

Regional heads are not just administrative decision makers, but also public leaders who are obliged to uphold ethics and wisdom. The NHS said leaders should have intelligence and not always feel right but wrong according to the public.

"The regent must have a comprehensive understanding so that in the end it can be accepted by the community. That's Javanese culture, sometimes 'true nging or not' is not necessarily appropriate," he said.

According to him, the tendency of reactive and anti-critic regional heads shows the failure to understand ethical responsibilities as leaders.

"Good policies are not enough to be only administratively or legally true, but must also be in line with public propriety and aspirations," he concluded.