Home Affairs Minister Tjahjo Kumolo. (Kompas.com/Indra Akuntono)

Home Affairs Minister Tjahjo Kumolo has reported that based on his ministry'€™s findings, the cost of running for election as regent in some areas can reach Rp 75 billion.

"There are four regions where you need that much to run in the regional election, while the number of voters in those regencies is only around 120,000," he said on Thursday as reported by newsportal kontan.co.id, refusing, however, to mention the names of the regions.

Tjahjo did not elaborate on the specific costs covered by the hefty budget, but candidates running in regional elections require capital for campaigning, self-promotion and for their political party.

The cost of running, he said, is greater than for candidates running in the general elections for lawmakers in the House of Representatives (DPR).

"I had a friend who spent Rp 43 billion on becoming a lawmaker," said the senior politician of the ruling Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P).

Tjahjo added that the ministry was aiming to cap the high campaign costs as it could create an unhealthy political and administrative climate. (rin)

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