Political Costs In Indonesia Are Expensive, KPK Suggests 50 Percent Of Party Budgets To Be Charged To The State Budget

Taking the serial numbers of political parties in 2019/Photo: Antara

JAKARTA - The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) proposes that the government will cover half of the party's needs. This step was taken to reduce the high political costs in the country.

"KPK issues recommendations and proposes to the government what if 50 percent of the costs for political parties are charged in the State Budget (APBN)," said KPK Deputy Chair Alexander Marwata in a written statement, Wednesday, April 20.

The request, continued Alexander, was made after the anti-corruption commission conducted a study regarding the amount of the party's needs. The management of political parties is collaborating with the KPK during its implementation.

With the imposition of the budget of political parties to the state, it is hoped that this institution can be managed more professionally and transparently. Political dowry is expected to no longer exist.

"Then when the party nominates its cadres to become regional heads or members of the legislature, there is no dowry in the party anymore," he said.

Furthermore, Alexander alluded to the issue of political dowry, which was indeed the beginning of the occurrence of criminal acts of corruption. He said, to advance as a regional head at the regent or mayor level, it would cost Rp20-30 billion.

"That is not a guarantee of winning. If you win, it will cost you more," he said.

Thus, charging the party's budget to the APBN is considered the right step. "When there is a budget from the state to the party, we hope that the party is managed in a professional, integrity, open and transparent manner," he concluded.