JakartaPost-Aug 31, 2023
With relatives of sitting lawmakers, political leaders and regional heads, along with at least three dozen former graft convicts, vying for seats in national and local legislatures next year, observers are concerned that Indonesia’s democracy is shifting toward political dynasties and a disregard for antigraft values. According to a report from Tempo done in collaboration with antigraft activist group Indonesia Corruption Watch (ICW), at least 150 politicians on the General Elections Commission’s (KPU) provisional list of nominees have a kinship with current House members, incumbent or former regional heads as well as political party leaders. They include Diah “Pinka” Hapsari, the daughter of the House of Representatives speaker Puan Maharani and the granddaughter of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri. The PDI-P is also nominating Giri Ramanda Kiemas and Puti Guntur Soekarno, who are Megawati’s nephew and niece. Meanwhile, family members of regional leaders who have joined the fray include the sister-in-law, daughter-in-law and brother of former Banten governor Atut Choisiyah, whose family has long held a stronghold over the province. Political dynasties? While it is not illegal for family members of lawmakers, party chairs and regional heads to contest the legislative elections, political analyst Firman Noor said it was indicative of political parties’ inability to develop a meritocracy-based regeneration. Read more at: https://www.thejakartapost.com/paper/2023/08/31/political-dynasties-graft-leniency-loom-over-2024-elections.html
