The Regulationof Independent Candidates in Organizing Regional Head Elections in Indonesia: A literature Review

Abstract

Adnan Purichta Ichsan, Syamsul Bachri, Marwati Riza, Hamzah

One absolute element of the existence of a country is sovereignty. Elections in Indonesia especially the election of regents/mayors and governors can be reached through party and independent paths. Elections through independentpaths certainly have strengths and weaknesses in the context of democracy in Indonesia. The purpose of this paper was to review the arrangements ofindependent candidates in organizing theregional elections in Indonesia. Through a literature review, this research found that an independent candidate presents as the representation of the existence of Law No. 12 of 2008 concerning Regional Election. Election of regional heads is always dominated by candidates who come from political parties. This makes many parties give demands for the birth of regulations for independent candidates as an effort to realize democracy in Indonesia. Competition through independent candidates has positive implications as a solution to local development at a time when natural resource support is currently increasingly limited. The contrast between independent candidates and candidates from political parties is the problem of organizing infrastructure with its political superstructure. Independent candidates do not have a clear political infrastructure so, what maintaining the constituent relations (infrastructure) with the executive (superstructure) does not exist. In fact, the executive position filled by independent candidates will not gain strong political legitimacy from the Provincial and Regency/City DPRDs because of the representation of the strengths of various political parties. The progress of the pairs of candidates from non-political parties shows several things: 1) citizens who have the right to develop themselves in the world of government by becoming candidates ofregional head have tried to take away their rights as prospective pairs of heads and deputy regional heads, 2)the advance of citizens through independent paths also shows the number of citizens who want to advance the elections but have limited access to political parties, 3) the phenomenon of independent candidates can also be interpreted as a form of resistance against political parties, and 4)the victory of independentcandidates in the elections also showed that political parties arenot succeed in carrying out their functions of recruitment and political education. Election have models in various countries and at various levels but elections through independent paths like this can be adapted in other countries according to the cultural context, characteristics and needs of the community and local government.