Money Politics Is Considered More Brutal In Indonesian Democracy

Illustration of the practice of money politics or money politics. (Unsplash)

JAKARTA - Founder of the Indef School of Political Economy, Didik J Rachbini asked intellectuals to find innovations to overcome the increasingly brutal politics of money in Indonesia's current democracy.

Indonesia's current democracy is brutal with money politics. Intellectuals should find innovations to break the chain of money politics in Indonesia," he said, Sunday, July 28, 2024.

In addition to money politics which is increasingly brutal among the public or voters, Didik also highlighted the practice of dowry money ahead of the implementation of the 2024 simultaneous regional elections. According to him, the practice of dowry money in the election contestation must be included in the criminal or legal realm.

Because, there was an exchange of dowries like bribery efforts for the nomination of a regional head. That shouldn't be there. But, political parties don't want to, because they get money from there," he added.

He considered that one solution to eliminating political dowries was by party funding and innovation. For example, by changing the political structure, including removing the implementation of regional elections.

"Maybe it can be made kind of automatic. For example, in Madura or Mojokerto, the most DPRD members from the biggest party immediately become regents. There is no money politics, it is gone, so there must be a lot of innovation," he said.

"So now the politics of money in our democracy is very brutal, there must be a lot of innovation and track police must be involved. Otherwise, I think it will be very difficult," said Didik.