Amid reports of some local leaders wishing to build their political dynasties, the acceptance of 174 independent candidates to contest the simultaneous regional elections scheduled for Dec
mid reports of some local leaders wishing to build their political dynasties, the acceptance of 174 independent candidates to contest the simultaneous regional elections scheduled for Dec. 9 looks like an oasis in the desert.
Chairman of the General Elections Commission (KPU), Husni Kamil Manik, said one pair of independent candidates secured a campaign ticket at the provincial level, 31 pairs at the municipal level and 142 at the regency level. They are quite big numbers, considering the increase they demonstrate in public support for their candidacy.
We cherish the rise of the non-partisan candidates as the antithesis of the long-established political system that has produced regional leaders who answer more to their respective political parties than to the people who voted for them. It has been commonplace that political parties decide on regional leadership candidates through a top-down mechanism.
For years the system has also been mired with money politics in the form of donations from candidates to political parties in exchange for their endorsement. Although Home Minister Tjahjo Kumolo and some political parties have called for an end to the practice, it will not stop unless it is declared a crime. No wonder the system has resulted in high-cost politics and contributed to rampant corruption in many regions as elected leaders are having to return favors once in office. Many regional leaders have been convicted of embezzling funds or enriching themselves and their buddies through other abuses of power.
Political parties, to some extent, are beneficiaries of the corrupt system, directly or indirectly, which is why they jump to the defense of regional leaders who face investigations for graft. Certain parties seemed entirely unashamed to be promoting regional leaders who had been named graft suspects.
Indeed, there has been little evidence to confirm that elected independent candidates fare better than partisan leaders. The most prominent successful independent candidate could be Bandung Mayor Ridwan Kamil, but political parties seem to never run out of members who perform commendably as regional leaders.
Independent candidates, however, have triggered major changes to the competition for regional leadership positions. The entry of the non-partisan candidates ensures that regional elections are more about character than political affiliation, which is why political parties have to pick only the best people for the race.
We can therefore expect improvement in the quality of regional elected leaders. This will only come true, however, if elections see a shift toward a battle of ideas instead of a simple mobilization of masses of party supporters. The government's decision to cover the cost of campaign funding will support attempts to hold quality elections as well as give a level playing field to both partisan and independent aspirants.
Only eight independent tickets have won regional elections since the Constitutional Court permitted their participation in 2007, but some have dared to predict that the time has come for non-partisan candidates to rule the roost. Independent candidates may not necessarily be outstanding, but given the poor track records of political parties, they deserve a turn to lead.
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