KPK Proposes Presidential Candidates Must Be Party Cadres; PKB Finds It Interesting

Tempo reports on a proposal by Indonesia's Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) suggesting that presidential and vice-presidential candidates should be party cadres. This idea has sparked interest within political circles, with the National Awakening Party (PKB) expressing a positive reception.

Hasanuddin Wahid, the Secretary-General of PKB, sees the KPK's suggestion as a valuable catalyst for parties to bolster their cadre systems and political education. He argues that such a requirement would incentivize parties to cultivate leaders capable of holding public office, thereby strengthening the institutionalization of democracy and political parties nationwide.

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Soal capres dan cawapres harus kader partai, itu pikiran menarik dan akan memperkuat posisi partai.

The KPK's recommendation stems from its findings on the governance of political parties, which highlighted deficiencies in political education roadmaps, integrated cadre systems, financial reporting, and oversight mechanisms. The anti-graft body proposes amending the law on political parties to include a clause requiring presidential and vice-presidential candidates to originate from a party's cadre system, in addition to existing democratic and open recruitment processes.

This proposal is part of a larger effort to reform political party governance in Indonesia. The KPK also suggests limiting party chairpersons to two terms and standardizing cadre system reporting, potentially linking it to party funding. The Indonesian context often sees candidates emerge from various backgrounds, and this KPK proposal seeks to professionalize political parties by emphasizing internal development and long-term commitment, a perspective that might differ from how such matters are viewed in Western democracies where candidate selection can be more fluid.

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Ini juga akan memperkuat pelembagaan demokrasi dan partai politik di tanah air.