Victory Of Empty Box Evidence Of Political Parties Fails To Fulfill Public Wishes In The 2024 Pilkada

Blank Box (Illustration)

JAKARTA Professor of Political Science at Bangka Belitung University, Ibrahim assessed that the victory of empty boxes in two areas, namely the Bangka Pilbup and Pilwalkot Pangkalpinang, proved that political parties failed to fulfill the public's wishes in the 2024 Pilkada.

Actually, the most important thing must be to draw a lesson from the victory of empty boxes such as in Bangka and Pangkalpinang, which are political parties. They are unable to read the flow of public wishes, so that single candidates are rejected by the public," he said, Sunday, December 1, 2024.

According to him, all political parties must be more moderate in accepting candidates or candidates for regional heads before deciding to be promoted in the elections in the coming years. Because, this can indirectly help election organizers so that the level of voter participation can increase.

If the cakada that is carried can at least meet the expectations of the public, of course the empty box is difficult to win. Thankfully if the candidate can be more than one. In addition, the participation rate will also automatically be high if all of that can be realized by the existing political parties, "explained Ibrahim.

As is known, in the contestation of the Bangka Pilbup, the empty box has received at least 57.25 percent of the total votes compared to the candidate pair for Regent and Deputy Regent of Bangka Mulkan-Ramadian with 42.75 percent of the votes. In fact, Mulkan-Ramadian was promoted by 10 political parties, namely PDIP, Golkar, Gerindra, NasDem, PKB, PPP, Perindo, PKS, PAN and Democrats.

Meanwhile in Pilwalkot Pangkalpinang, the empty box received 57.98 percent of the total votes compared to the candidate pair for Mayor and Deputy Mayor of Pangkalpinang Maulan Aklil-Masangus Hakim with 42.02 percent of the votes. The Maulan Aklil-Masangus Hakim pair was promoted by 16 political parties, namely PDIP, NasDem, Gerindra, Golkar, Democrats, PKS, PPP, PAN, PKB, Garuda Party, PKN, Ummat, Labor, PSI, Perindo and Hanura.