JAKARTA, 18 September 2014 – Next week, 25 September 2014, is still a long time away. However, for supporters and implementers of democracy, this more than a week is very meaningful. Very crucial. Defining the future of our local democracy. On that date, the DPR and the Government will decide whether to accept or reject the Pilkada indirectly.

The arguments of those who reject direct regional elections (we call Pilkada-by-the-people, or Pilkada), among others, are because they are expensive, waste state money, and cause social conflict horizontally.

The argument for those who support Pilkada-by-the-People is the political right of the people to elect their leaders.

With regard to high costs and waste, PATTIRO assesses that this must be reviewed from a proportional and appropriate point of view. This nation must learn to think logically and rationally. Do not mix up principal issues with technical matters.

We can examine the example experienced by a regional head in Central Java. The Regent was elected for two consecutive terms in the 2003-2008 and 2008-2013 periods, and has experienced how hard the two regional elections are, with two different types of regional elections. When elected in the first period, the Regent was elected through Pilkada-by-DPRD. That said, the Regent had to reach into his personal pockets to buy 35 DPRD members each a Suzuki Escudo 2.0 car, which at that time cost around Rp. 200 million/car. In total to be elected, the Regent spent a political cost of IDR 7 billion.

During the Pilkada-by-the People, in the second period, the Regent had to dig deeper into his pockets. The political costs incurred, it is said, reached Rp. 15 billion. Twice the cost he spent in Pilkada-by-DPRD.

This is an example of the high political cost argument, even though reality is relative. Gamawan Fauzi, according to his statement in the media, was elected Regent of Solok through Pilkada-by-DPRD (2000-2005) and Governor of West Sumatra through Pilkada-by-the People (2005-2011), without incurring political costs.

Then, does that mean the argument against Pilkada-by-the People above is true? Of course not at all. Why?

According to PATTIRO, as a nation we must distinguish between principles and technical and non-principles. Pilkada is a principle and a key element of a democratic system. Meanwhile, high political costs are excesses that can be handled and overcome by regulatory and law enforcement approaches.

The trick is to strictly stipulate rules for limiting political campaign costs in the Pilkada Bill that is being discussed. This strict restriction will mature Regional Head Candidates to be creative and solutive to embrace the voice of the community. Creativity and delivering solutions are not the main concern in every local election. Thus causing democratic competition to be trapped into the stage of the fight for the value of money that is distributed to the voters. Who gives the most “envelope money”, then he has the greatest potential to win. This is an excess that must be strictly regulated.

The arrangement for limiting the political costs of regional head candidates will also provide lessons and force the supporting political parties to be creative and work closer to the people. That way, our democracy will be more mature and more mature.

With the above rationale, PATTIRO urges the DPR RI and the President of the Republic of Indonesia to:

1. Continuing to maintain the direct Regional Head Election Mechanism, because the people’s political right is to elect their government leaders. In addition to electing its representatives in the regional parliament.
2. Changing the name of the Pilkada Bill to the Pilkada Bill; because with these changes it is an affirmation that the key elements of the democratic system have been implemented, namely General Elections (Elections) for Regional Heads.
3. Establish a clause in the bill regarding strict limits on political campaign expenses; thus every expenditure and campaign expenditure of the Candidate can no longer be done haphazardly, jor-rod, as if having unlimited financial resources.
4. Establish a clause in the Bill regarding strict legal sanctions for violations of Limiting Campaign Fees by imposing disqualification for regional head candidates who violate them; thereby forcing every political party and candidate to seek creative and intelligent ways for voters.