T

he participation of young figures in the Democratic Party'€™s presidential primary race sparks hope for the rise of a young generation in national leadership. If the young generation is defined as those under 50 years of age, there are three figures in the party'€™s primary race: rector of Paramadina University Anies Baswedan (44), Indonesian Ambassador to the United States Dino Patti Djalal (47) and Trade Minister Gita Wirjawan (47).

It is a known secret that regeneration is one of acute problems faced by the majority of political parties in Indonesia. This whole time, political parties have never realized that regeneration is problem that they deal with. Regeneration will become important once they draft candidates ahead of the legislative election.

One example of the regeneration crisis in political parties is the likely nomination of '€œold faces'€ in the battle for the presidency next year. These '€œold faces'€ include Megawati Soekarnoputri, Jusuf Kalla, Prabowo Subianto, Aburizal Bakrie and Wiranto.

The emergence of those names in the 2014 presidential election has emphasized the regeneration crisis experienced by the majority of political parties in Indonesia. It is hard to deny the fact that the regeneration crisis is related to the rare opportunity given to young party members participate in such elections.

We can see how dominant the '€œold generation'€ is in handling internal affairs in their respective political parties. Nowadays, the young generation has a limited chance to have their own space in the political parties.

It is in sharp contrast to the past, when the youth used to be the main actors behind crucial episodes of our nation. History has recorded with gold ink the role of students of School tot Opleiding van Indische Artsen (STOVIA), an initial name for the University of Indonesia (UI), in pioneering the establishment of the Budi Utomo movement. These young people and students got together to uphold the spirit of the Sumpah Pemuda (Youth Pledge) in 1928. Furthermore, Benedict Anderson, an Indonesianist, has termed the independence revolution of 1945 the Youth Revolution.

On the other hand, this republic was established by several actors who were relatively still young. Sukarno was appointed president at the age of 44, while Mohammad Hatta was appointed vice president at 43 years of age. All of these facts indicate that Indonesia has historical foundation built on strong youth leadership.

However, post-independence, the situation has changed completely, particularly during the New Order era. Under such an authoritarian system, political activities in Indonesia have run without significant participation from the youth. The regeneration process was inhibited systematically and structurally.

It is therefore a strong reason for the nation to now re-promote the youth'€™s participation in national leadership. Youth participation is needed. The youth themselves must then be able to prove their capacity as a new breed of leadership.

Political party elites have to realize the importance of youth involvement in the party'€™s board of executives. If political parties want to remain existent in the country'€™s political arena, they need to give opportunity to the young generation to prove themselves.

The dependency of several political parties on certain figures has often been the great wall barrier for young politicians to progress. As often the case, succession in political party leadership has shown minimum, if not zero, participation of young politicians. Therefore, the domination of old actors in the political structure is counterproductive to the strategic agenda of promoting young people in national leadership.

In that context, the Democratic Party'€™s initiative to provide room for the young generation '€” Anies, Dino and Gita '€” to take part in its presidential primary race is relevant. The Democratic Party and other political parties as well should ensure that such strategic agenda will continue to exist.

The massive involvement of the young in political parties could lead to the emergence of new seeds in national leadership. Indonesia'€™s future is important and it will be a waste if national leadership only entrusts the future of this country in the hands of older figures.

The writer is a political researcher at The Habibie Center.