Intense Lobbying for Acting Officials Positions

Name: Intense Lobbying for Acting Officials Positions
Uploaded: 2022-05-11T05:02:18Z
Duration: 20 min 32 s
Description: The interest in winning the general and regional head elections in 2024 is believed to have triggered intense lobbying by a number of parties to get the positions of acting regional heads.

The interest in winning the general and regional head elections in 2024 is believed to have triggered intense lobbying by a number of parties to get the positions of acting regional heads.

Kompas Team

· 7 minutes read

JAKARTA, KOMPAS — Political lobbying surrounding the filling of regional heads has recently intensified by a number of parties as the end of the term of office for regional heads in hundreds of regions draws near. Behind this lobbying, it is suspected that there are interests related to winning the general election and regional head elections in 2024.

To ensure that the acting officials are free from political interests and have the capability and integrity to lead the regions, transparency and public participation need to be open when determining the acting officials.

On 15 May, five governors will end their terms. On 22 May they will be followed by a further 37 regents and six mayors. In total, this year 101 regional heads, followed by another 170 regional heads in 2023, will end their terms. A total of 271 regions will then be led by acting regional heads until definitive regional heads are elected as a result of the regional elections to be held on 27 November 2024.

Based on a Kompas search on Tuesday (10/5/2022), President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo on Monday made his decision on the acting governors to lead five provinces whose regional heads end their term of office this May. According to the plan, the acting governors will be sworn in on Thursday (12/5). The 43 acting regents/mayors will be sworn in on 22 May. Most of the authority related to filling these positions rests with the Home Ministry.

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In a XYZ Forum discussion titled "Acting officials controlling regions: Targeted policy vs. policy conservatism" held at the Kompas Daily Editorial Office on Tuesday, Administrative Reform and Bureaucratic Reform Minister (Menpan and RB) Tjahjo Kumolo revealed there had been intense lobbying by a number of parties for the acting positions of regional heads. The lobbying, among others actions, was launched by the governors, mayors and incumbent regents.

One of the goals of the lobbying by the incumbent regional heads has been to ensure that the candidates for offices they support can help win the incumbent in the 2024 regional head elections (Pilkada). "If the governors insist, [they want] the acting regents/mayors, especially if the governors want to compete again, I'm sorry, they certainly have their interests," said Tjahjo.

Also present online and offline as resource guests at this event were the Regional Autonomy director general at the Home Ministry Akmal Malik, West Java Governor Ridwan Kamil, chairman of the Management Board of the Indonesian City Government Association (Apeksi) who is also the mayor of Bogor, Bima Arya and a representatives of the Board of Professors of the Institute of Public Administration Djohermansyah Djohan.

Also there to give comments were the chairman of the State Civil Servant Commission Agus Pramusinto, Association of Regional Legislative Councils of all Indonesian Regencies chairman Lukman Said, the Administration and Empowerment of State Civil Servants from the Association of Indonesian Regency Governments chairman Nikson Nababan and Association for Elections and Democracy researcher Heroik Pratama.

Tjahjo said that because there were indications of political interests behind the lobbying, he admitted that he had asked the Home Ministry, as the ministry in charge of selecting the acting officials, not to choose them. "I want neutrality, want to be upright, because democratic consolidation is very important," he said.

The existence of the lobbying to fill the position of the acting officials is in line with statements from a number of the elite of political parties and members of the House of Representatives (DPR) who were interviewed by Kompas last April. They said that lobbying was carried out by state civil servants who were eyeing the positions of the acting officials. They were offered the lure of money for the promise to secure the votes of their supporting parties in the 2024 general election (Kompas, 18/4/2022).

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Ridwan Kamil also admitted that there was lobbying from regional heads whose terms were about to expire. "I understand that there may be comfort for the incumbent in the candidates he proposes. However, I don't agree with all of them because my considerations are more on capacity and leadership as they will become political beings,” said the coordinator for the Java, Bali, West Nusa Tenggara Provincial Governments of the Association of All Indonesia Provinces.

Apart from the lobbying, Kamil emphasized the importance of the process of selecting the acting officials being explained in a transparent manner. He himself he did not know how the central government chose a certain figure to become the acting regent/mayor. In addition, he explained that it was also important for the central government to provide an explanation to the public to prevent wild speculation, which could create instability in the regions. Moreover, the acting officials would serve during the stages of the general election and local elections in 2024, when the political temperature usually heats up.

Lukman Said said that the provincial legislative councils (DPRDs) had never given an explanation on the determination of the acting regional heads, particularly important as these officials would later become DPRD partners.

Three criteria

Meanwhile, Bima Arya emphasized that the acting regional heads faced challenges in legitimacy, knowledge and political ability. In order to answer to these three challenges, politicization in determining the acting officials must be prevented. Moreover, the quality of the elected regional heads will determine the continued sustainability of development.

Apeksi also suggested that there should be a selection process in filling the positions of the acting officials. There must be criteria met for the eligibility of becoming an acting regional head.

Djohermansyah supported this proposal. In the selection of the committee to choose the acting officials, external supervisory agencies could be involved, such as the State Civil Servant Commission. He also emphasized the importance of the government to prioritize the principles of democracy, transparency, competence and the regional needs in determining the acting officials. This is as stated in the consideration of the decision of the Constitutional Court (MK) regarding the acting regional heads on 20 April.

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> Polemic Over Acting Regional Heads

Heroik Pratama said political lobbying in the dark space of filling in for acting regional heads could be avoided if the government applied the principles of transparency and public participation. "The Constitutional Court's order can be a source of law to make technical regulations that can ensure transparency and accountability," he said.

Agus Pramusinto also emphasized the importance of those choosing the acting officials. Those who are elected must be ensured that they are neutral, objective and do not become political machines for certain political interests. "The holding of regional elections, legislative elections and presidential elections must be fair," he said.

According to Akmal Malik, in the appointment of the acting officials, the government had formed a team comprising representatives from a number of ministries, including the Administrative and Bureaucratic Reform Ministry, the Home Ministry, the State Civil Service Agency and the State Secretariat. This team had not existed before because the appointment of the acting officials was usually left to the Home Ministry. "Obviously, with this fairly strong filter, the acting officials to be appointed this year are those who have very good, above average qualifications," he said.

In addition, to ensure that officials carry out their duties professionally, every three months they are asked to submit an accountability report. If their performance is unsatisfactory or even unprofessional, such as not being neutral during the elections, they may be replaced immediately. ( BOW/ SYA / RTG/ HAR)

This article was translated by Hyginus Hardoyo

Editor:

SYAHNAN RANGKUTI

government political interests acting regional heads political lobby the regional elections