Minister Of Law Claims The Idea Of Regional Head Elections Through DPRD Has Been Rolling Since The Jokowi Era

Minister of Law Supratman Andi Agtas gave a statement in an intercept interview at the Presidential Palace Complex, Jakarta, Friday (13/12/2024). (ANTARA/Fathur Rochman)

JAKARTA - Minister of Law (Menkum) Supratman Andi Agtas claimed that the idea of regional head election (pilkada) was carried out through the DPRD (dewan perwakilan rakyat daerah) had been rolling for a long time, even since the era of the 7th Presidential Government of the Republic of Indonesia Joko Widodo.

"From the time of President Jokowi, it has also been going on for a long time, among political parties it has also been (discussed)," said Supratman at the Presidential Palace, Jakarta, Friday, December 13, which was confiscated by Antara.

According to Supratman, the discourse gained new momentum after Golkar Party Chairman Bahlil Lahadalia re-proposed and President Prabowo Subianto welcomed the proposal.

According to him, this is an opportunity to create a discourse that can improve the implementation of democracy in Indonesia.

He said that the direct regional elections that had been implemented had posed various challenges in the community, ranging from alleged violations, cost inefficiency, to potential conflicts between groups in areas that often required the deployment of security forces on a large scale.

The decline in voter participation in the regional elections is also one of the bases for the discourse. Many people are now prioritizing their economic needs and family education so that interest in the democratic process such as regional elections tends to decline.

However, the Minister of Law and Human Rights emphasized that this discourse is still in the discussion stage and no decision has yet been made. The government and political parties are conducting a study to ensure the best option in the implementation of the elections in the future.

"Once again this has not been decided. We are waiting for a study, I think all political parties will conduct the same study, the government will also conduct the same study so that later in the discussion of the Law on Elections, an agreement can be reached between political parties in parliament," he said.

Previously, President Prabowo Subianto conveyed the idea of improving the political system in Indonesia because it was considered high-cost and inefficient when compared to neighboring countries.

"I think today is the most important thing that was conveyed by the General Chairperson of the Golkar Party earlier that we all feel our democracy that we are running, there is one or there are several things that we have to fix together. I think we have to improve our system," said Prabowo.

This was conveyed by Prabowo in his remarks at the 60th Anniversary of the Golkar Party at Sentul International Convention Center (SICC), Bogor, West Java, Thursday (12/12) night.

Prabowo also suggested that in the future regional head elections be carried out through their respective DPRDs, so there is no need to spend a lot of money.

"I see that our neighboring countries are efficient. Malaysia, Singapore, India, once they choose DPRD members, once they choose, they have chosen governors, vote for regents. Efficients, no money comes out, money comes out, money comes out, like we are rich," he said.