By: Andre Prasetyo )*
Pilkada is not just a five-yearly democratic party, but also a reflection of how far the quality of democracy in Indonesia has developed. The successful implementation of Pilkada, both in terms of technical and substantial, is real evidence that democracy in this country continues to grow and mature.
Good governance is not only formed at the central level, but also begins with the ability of regions to choose quality leaders. Pilkada provides space for the community to determine the direction of local policies through leaders they directly elect. In this context, Pilkada is not only about choosing a leader, but also a stage for political education for the community. This process, indirectly, increases the political awareness of the community, which is one of the important elements in building a healthy democracy.
The Chairman of the General Election Commission (KPU) of Lampung Province, Erwan Bustami said that the 2024 Pilkada in Lampung Province was generally successful with a safe, peaceful, and democratic atmosphere. This success cannot be separated from the active role of the community and the media as pillars of democracy. His party also appreciated all elements involved, including the KPU ranks in 15 districts/cities that had completed the recapitulation process of the election results well.
The success of the Lampung Pilkada also shows that democracy in Indonesia is increasingly mature. People are increasingly aware of the importance of political participation and their voting rights. This is an important capital for building a stronger and quality democracy in the future.
The success of the 2024 Pilkada in Indonesia is not only a source of pride for the Indonesian people, but also a message to the world that Indonesia is able to hold a democratic party honestly and fairly. Active participation of the community in every stage of the election shows a high level of political awareness and commitment to maintaining democracy. This can be seen from the enthusiasm of residents who come to the Polling Stations (TPS) to cast their votes.
The role of the media in overseeing the Pilkada process also deserves appreciation. The mass media plays an important role in providing accurate and objective information to the public, so that the public can follow the development of the Pilkada properly. In addition, the media also functions as an independent supervisor who helps ensure that each stage of the election runs in accordance with applicable regulations.
The Minister of Communication and Digital (Menkomdigi), Meutya Hafid emphasized the importance of the role of the media as the fourth pillar to oversee democracy in providing constructive input for government programs. The success of the 2024 Pilkada cannot be separated from the conducive media and education that the government continues to carry out to combat hoaxes and hate speech.
The success of the regional elections in Indonesia is also inseparable from the hard work of the security forces who kept the situation conducive. The police and the TNI worked together to ensure security at each polling station, so that people could cast their votes without fear. Preventive measures taken by the security forces succeeded in preventing disturbances that could hinder the election process.
The Chairperson of the Indonesian House of Representatives, Puan Maharani, appreciated the KPU and Bawaslu RI for the success of the 2024 simultaneous regional elections. According to her, the implementation of the regional elections took place smoothly, orderly, and according to expectations.
This success should not make the public careless. There are still many challenges that must be faced to continue to improve the quality of democracy in Indonesia. One of them is increasing voter participation, especially among the younger generation. The KPU and various related parties need to continue to carry out political socialization and education so that the younger generation is increasingly aware of the importance of their role in the democratic process.
In addition, transparency and accountability in every stage of the election must continue to be maintained. The KPU needs to ensure that every election process runs in accordance with applicable regulations and is free from fraud. This is important to maintain public trust in the election process and the results obtained.
The success of the 2024 Pilkada is real proof that democracy in Indonesia is increasingly mature. With the active participation of the community, the objective role of the media, and the hard work of the security forces, we can realize honest, fair, and quality elections. Let us continue to increase public participation and political awareness for the advancement of democracy in Indonesia.
The success of the implementation of the Pilkada in Indonesia is real proof that the democratic process continues to develop. Although there are still challenges that must be overcome, this achievement deserves to be appreciated as a step forward in building a more inclusive, transparent, and equitable political system. The Pilkada not only reflects the quality of democracy, but also becomes a place for collective learning for the entire community. With a spirit of mutual cooperation and shared commitment, the community can ensure that democracy in Indonesia continues to grow and provide real benefits for the progress of the nation.
)* The author is a postgraduate student living in Tangerang