Pilkada Tak Langsung: Wacana Lama yang Kembali | Banyak Alasan

Summary

This video discusses Indonesia’s recurring proposal to abolish direct local elections (Pilkada) and return to indirect elections through regional legislatures (DPRD). First pushed in 2014 by parties backing Prabowo Subianto and briefly enacted before being repealed by President SBY via a Perppu, the idea resurfaced in late 2024 through Golkar leader Bahlil Lahadalia and gained a positive response from President Prabowo, citing high costs and social conflict. The speaker argues the proposal is a democratic setback, outlining four critiques: high costs stem from money politics, indirect elections heighten elite capture and corruption risks, weaken accountability to citizens, undermine popular sovereignty, and re-centralize power, eroding regional autonomy.

Takeaways

• 😀 The proposal to eliminate direct regional elections (Pilkada) and replace them with indirect elections via the DPRD is being discussed again by the Golkar Party.
• 😀 The proposal was originally championed by the Koalisi Merah Putih coalition, which supported Prabowo Subianto during the 2014 elections.
• 😀 The main argument for indirect elections is the high cost of direct elections, which allegedly lead to social conflicts and corruption among regional leaders.
• 😀 The Indonesian Parliament passed Law No. 22 of 2014, which required regional elections through the DPRD, but this was overturned by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY) through a Presidential Regulation (Perpu) in 2014.
• 😀 The recent revival of the indirect election proposal was brought forward by Golkar’s Chairman, Bahlil Dalia, at the 60th anniversary celebration of the Golkar Party in late 2024.
• 😀 President Prabowo expressed support for the proposal, agreeing that the system might be too costly and ineffective in its current form.
• 😀 Critics argue that the real reason elections are expensive is due to corruption, money politics, and power transactions, not the direct election process itself.
• 😀 Indirect elections via the DPRD could worsen the problem of corruption, as it could encourage more covert political transactions, which are harder to monitor.
• 😀 A key concern is that regional leaders chosen by the DPRD will become more loyal to political parties and factions than to the people they serve, leading to political pressure and policy gridlocks.
• 😀 The proposal to switch to indirect elections is seen as a threat to people's sovereignty, as direct elections give voters the power to evaluate and judge leaders, which they would lose if the system is changed.
• 😀 Critics argue that restoring indirect elections is a step backward, centralizing power in the hands of political elites and diminishing regional autonomy and democracy.

Q & A

What is the primary reason behind the proposal to replace direct Pilkada with an indirect system through the DPRD?

The main reason behind this proposal is the perceived high cost of direct Pilkada elections, which reportedly lead to conflicts, social unrest, and corruption among local leaders.

Which political coalition initially proposed the idea of indirect Pilkada, and what was their motivation?

The idea was initially proposed by the political parties in the 'Koalisi Merah Putih', which supported Prabowo Subianto in the 2014 Presidential Election. They argued that direct Pilkada was too costly and contributed to corruption and social conflicts.

How did the government respond to the proposed change in the Pilkada system in 2014?

In 2014, the Indonesian government responded by passing the 'Law No. 22 of 2014', which implemented indirect Pilkada through the DPRD. However, this decision was later overturned by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY) through a presidential decree (Perpu No. 1/2014), which reinstated direct Pilkada.

Why is the proposal for indirect Pilkada being discussed again in 2024?

In 2024, the proposal resurfaced when Bahlil Lahadalia, the Chairman of Golkar Party, raised it during the party’s 60th anniversary event. He suggested starting a dialogue on the issue, particularly due to concerns over the high costs of Pilkada.

What was President Prabowo's response to the idea of indirect Pilkada in 2024?

President Prabowo expressed support for the proposal, acknowledging the need to improve the system and suggesting that the current costs and challenges associated with direct Pilkada could be a problem.

What are the four key reasons given against the idea of indirect Pilkada?

The four key reasons are: 1) Political corruption and high costs are not due to the direct election process but to the unchecked practices of politics; 2) Indirect Pilkada would make regional leaders more loyal to political parties than to the people; 3) It undermines popular sovereignty by removing the people's right to choose; 4) It would centralize power and erode regional autonomy, making local governance dependent on a few elites.

How does the author suggest addressing the high costs of Pilkada instead of eliminating direct elections?

The author suggests that rather than eliminating direct Pilkada, efforts should focus on eradicating political corruption, money politics, and improving transparency in political party funding.

What does the author believe would happen if Pilkada were conducted through the DPRD?

The author believes that if Pilkada were conducted through the DPRD, local leaders would become more dependent on party elites rather than the electorate, leading to potential political gridlocks and less accountability to the people.

How does the author describe the impact of indirect Pilkada on democracy and regional autonomy?

The author argues that indirect Pilkada would be a step backward for democracy, as it would reduce people's involvement in political decision-making, weakening local autonomy and transferring power to a small political elite.

What does the term 'Pilkades' refer to in the context of the script?

The term 'Pilkades' is a reference to the election of village heads (Pilkades). It is used by Bahlil Lahadalia to suggest that the proposed indirect Pilkada could resemble the more localized, often less democratic, village head elections.