PDIP rejects proposal for regional elections without deputy heads

The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP) firmly rejects the idea of holding regional elections without candidates for deputy regional heads, a proposal that has recently emerged in the Indonesian House of Representatives.

PDIP Secretary-General Hasto Kristiyanto stated the party's disagreement, emphasizing that the core substance of regional elections stems from the spirit of reform, which shifted sovereignty from rulers to the people. He noted that the concept of regional heads and their deputies has been integral to the system, despite practical issues that sometimes arise between them after being elected.

Kristiyanto argued that PDIP's primary focus is not on eliminating the deputy regional head position. Instead, the party emphasizes the systemic preparation of candidates to ensure all citizens have an equal opportunity to be nominated, with political parties serving as platforms for nurturing future leaders. The party also highlights the importance of reducing the high political costs associated with the nomination process.

PDIP claims to have established mechanisms, including a party school and internal regulations, to prevent the illicit trade of recommendations. They assert that regional heads from PDIP do not incur special costs for their nomination, relying instead on the party's collective efforts. Kristiyanto also linked the issue of high political costs to the current state of national finances, which he believes have been impacted by previous infrastructure development programs.

Furthermore, Kristiyanto touched upon spatial planning and the preservation of agricultural land, citing the Netherlands' public transportation policies as an example of how land use can be managed without converting farmland into industrial areas. He reiterated that the position of deputy regional head remains necessary as part of the governmental mechanism, particularly for anticipating emergency situations where a regional head might be incapacitated.