This Is Lemhanas' View To Finalize Indonesia's Consolidation

Lemhanas Governor Andi Widjajanto/Photo: Antara

JAKARTA - The Governor of the Indonesian National Resilience Institute (Lemhannas), Andi Widjajanto, said that Indonesia needs to hold two more democratic elections to finalize the consolidation of democracy to realize prosperity in the country.

“We need to do our homework for two more democratic elections to finalize the consolidation of our democracy. There are only two times left, namely the 2024 Election and the 2029 Election", Andi said when he was a speaker at the Satya Wacana Christian University (SWCU) National Insight Seminar entitled "Membangun Wawasan Kebangsaan di Era Disrupsi Informasi: Strategi Pemerintahan Jokowi Menjaga Keamanan Nasional", as monitored through SWCU YouTube channel Salatiga, Central Java, in Jakarta, Monday, July 18.

In carrying out the two democratic elections, according to him, Indonesia will face tougher challenges than in the previous five democratic elections, namely 1999, 2004, 2009, 2014, and 2019 elections, because, in the 2024 and 2029 elections, the legislative elections will be held. Regional head elections and presidential elections are held simultaneously.

Therefore, to conquer this more difficult challenge, Andi conveyed several things that all Indonesians must pay attention to, including, the electoral system in the country must be able to adapt to technology and the party system must be better than the current system.

“Like it or not, our electoral system must be able to adapt technology. Like it or not, our party system must be better than it is now. Like it or not, the strengthening of the current party must be much better than now so that the consolidation of democracy takes place", he said.

Andi said that the realization of democratic consolidation which is an effort to equalize the perspectives of all elements of the nation to carry out democratic agendas together through the implementation of democratic elections will be followed by an increase in welfare.

Although there is no causal relationship, he said, there is an association between Indonesia's gross domestic product (GDP) per capita and democratic maturity.

“There is no causal relationship, but there is an association between GDP per capita and the maturity of democracy. Democratically mature countries, usually have a GDP per capita of over 6,000 US dollars per capita. Now, we are still 4,000 US dollars. We have to pursue another 2,000 US dollars to reach the ideal state requirements for consolidating democracy", Andi explained.

Previously, Andi said that the consolidation of Indonesia's democracy was one of the five issues that President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) asked to become the main concern of the Indonesian National Defense Institute.

“At Lemhannas, we were asked to concentrate on five issues by President Jokowi. We are working on these issues. The first is about the consolidation of democracy, then the green economy, the blue economy, digital transformation, and the development of the Nusantara Capital City (IKN). Our task is to prepare recommendations to make the 2020 map significantly different from the 2045 map (realizing the Golden Indonesia vision)", he explained.