By: Alexander Joshua Galen )*
The Regional Head Election (Pilkada) is a very important momentum for all elements of society in Indonesia from various regions to be able to establish social consolidation after the 2024 Election.
The reason is, in every General Election event, usually there will be some traces left behind from the contestation which are not immediately removed and make people move on. For this reason, because the entire presidential election process itself is over, now is the time to consolidate and welcome back the implementation of the 2024 regional elections.
From the 2024 Regional Head Election (Pilkada) event, all people from various regions in Indonesia have the opportunity to participate and play an active role in making their region or area even better, namely by electing good leaders and making the democratic party a success. However, social consolidation must occur evenly first.
No half-hearted, in fact the simultaneous regional elections which will take place in November 2024 will also be a momentum for improving and strengthening the function of people’s sovereignty.
Regarding this matter, Member of the People’s Consultative Assembly of the Republic of Indonesia (MPR RI), Subardi said that the Regional Head Election was able to correct the shortcomings of the Election from various aspects, starting from how it was held to its essence as a means of popular sovereignty.
Because it was true that the February 2024 General Election some time ago reduced the nation’s energy, but in welcoming the upcoming November 2024 Regional Election, all elements should be able to learn more and be able to improve if deficiencies occur, both from technical and philosophical aspects.
In the post-election period like now, improving democracy at the regional level is indeed a very appropriate step. To make this happen, several things are needed, such as communication with cross elements, which must be integrated again to further reduce the impact of polarization.
Apart from that, the people themselves must be much more sensitive to the various issues in their area, so that the implementation of the regional elections can take place better than the 2024 general elections.
If, for example, society is able to eliminate the potential for post-election polarization, it is not impossible that the implementation of the Regional Election will be successful with this harmony.
Of course, all elements of the nation must continue to voice the importance of reconciliation, so that regional head elections can produce leaders who are trustworthy and in accordance with the wishes of the people.
Through more thorough preparation, the implementation of the 2024 regional elections will be much more interesting, as well as creating political harmony after the recent elections which were full of sharp debates, mutual attacks for support and so on.
It is important for society to always maintain and strengthen people’s sovereignty as a national commitment by upholding the 4 Pillars of the Nation, namely Pancasila, the 1945 Constitution, the Republic of Indonesia and Bhinneka Tunggal Ika.
These four pillars of the nation require a very strong commitment together to further enhance the sustainability of democracy, so when the pillars of the nation are upheld, it will further reduce tensions, strengthen relations between citizens and create a conducive democratic climate.
All groups must make each other proud to build efforts for reconciliation, consolidation and reintegration, because of course all elements really want harmony after the election.
Dean of the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences (FISIP) University of Indonesia (UI) Prof. Dr. Semiarto Aji Purwanto said that the implementation of the General Election in February 2024 had an important position and could be a milestone in the progress of democracy in the country.
Meanwhile, Former Vice President of the Republic of Indonesia Jusuf Kalla said that the government would be able to run well if the majority of parliament fully supported it. Therefore, according to him, there is nothing wrong if the party winning the election invites other political parties (Parpol) to join the government or carry out consolidation and reconciliation.
There is also a need for evaluation to ensure that the implementation of the democratic party in Indonesia in the future can be even better. So it is important to have inclusive and equal citizenship education for the sake of a better substantive democracy.
The 2024 regional elections must be a very appropriate momentum to mutually correct all forms of undesirable things from the implementation of the previous elections so that they can be made better by consolidation.
On the other hand, Deputy Chair of the Indonesian People’s Consultative Assembly for the 2019-2024 period, Jazilul Fawaid, emphasized that democratic consolidation is an integral part of efforts to create a much more democratic Indonesia in the future.
Even though there are still threats, disturbances, obstacles and challenges (AGHT) to the ongoing process, both structurally and culturally, politically, various efforts to realize democracy must continue to be carried out massively by all elements of the nation, whether from the government, legislature, judiciary or various elements of society.
The 2024 regional elections which will take place in November, apart from being a hope for regional people’s democratic parties, are also the best momentum for strengthening democratic consolidation after the February 2024 elections.
)* Equatorial Voice Contributor
