Strengthening the Second Generation of Political Dynasties in Banten

The phenomenon of kinship politics is very embedded in Banten Province. It is predicted that the 2024 elections in this region will not be empty of elites born from dynastic politics.

The following article was translated using both Microsoft Azure Open AI and Google Translation AI. The original article can be found in Penguatan Generasi Kedua Dinasti Politik di Banten

Driving experience through the roads of Citorek towards Bayah, Lebak, can make anyone's nerves fray. Apart from the fairly rough, steep and cliff-side roads, the area is also sparsely populated throughout. Drivers must give way to each other when passing as the road is narrow.

In this mountainous region, there are still many dirt roads with landslide-prone cliffs on one side and open abysses on the other. The influence of development seems to have recently touched this area, as evidenced by ongoing road paving and concrete work.

Regent of Lebak, Iti Octavia Jayabaya (Democratic Party) and her deputy, Ade Sumardi (Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle), in presenting their vision-mission at a candidate debate ahead of the June 22, 2018 local election, acknowledge the limitations of development in Lebak.

Apart from the limited infrastructure and access to basic needs, the vastness of the region (some areas are up to 200 kilometers from the district capital) poses challenges for the Lebak community. Furthermore, 43 percent of the area is still covered by forests.

In 2022, Lebak's poverty rate will reach 8.91 percent or 117,220 people and the Human Development Index (HDI) will be 64.71 or the lowest in Banten.

The expected length of schooling for children in Lebak is only 12.09 years, aka elementary school equivalent. With all the regional limitations, it is not surprising that Iti Jayabaya actually mentions the people's desire for the expansion of the Lebak region.

The Iti Jayabaya-Ade Sumardi pair is the only candidate supported by 10 political parties in Lebak. This pair is running for a second term without any internal conflicts and competing against empty ballot boxes.

Iti Jayabaya is the child of Mulyadi Jayabaya, the previous Bupati of Lebak for two periods (2003-2013), while Ade Sumardi is the Chairman of the DPD PDI-P Banten. The Lebak 2018 election finally recorded their victory with 76.96 percent of the votes from a voter turnout of 65.46 percent.

The prominence of the Mulyadi Jayabaya family remains key to Lebak's leadership. Additionally, there is a nationalist undertone among Lebak voters.

Muhlis, the Chairman of the PDI-P Faction in the Banten Regional People's Representative Council, perceives that voters in Lebak, despite their Islamic and Sunda Wiwitan background, have a nationalist character due to their "psychological bond with Soekarno". This refers to two visits made by President Soekarno to Lebak during the pre-independence era in 1944 and 1957.

Also read: Ideological Contestation Versus Political Pragmatism

Kinship politics

Not only Lebak has a strong figure dominating the local political stage. In Pandeglang, there is the family lineage of Ahmad Dimyati Natakusumah who served as regent for two terms (2000-2009) and Vice Chairman of the MPR from the United Development Party (2014) as well as a member of the DPR. Avoiding internal conflict within PPP, Dimyati joined the Prosperous Justice Party at the end of 2017.

His wife, Irna Narulita, currently serves as the Regent of Pandeglang for two terms (2016-2024) after previously being a member of the House of Representatives for two terms (2009-2015).

Membership of Irna also recorded moved from PPP to Democrat and since 2020 became a member of PDI-P. Although Irna is not originally from Pandeglang, the influence of the Dimyati family name in Pandeglang allowed her to win the 2015 local election with a proportion of almost 70 percent.

In Serang and Tangerang, local figures from the family of former Banten Governor Ratu Atut Chosiyah from the Golkar Party dominate the political scene.

The names of Andika Hazrumy (Ratu Atut's son) as vice governor of Banten (2017-2022), Tubagus Haerul Jaman (Ratu Atut's step-brother) as mayor of Serang for two terms (2011-2018), and Tanto W Arban (Ratu Atut's son-in-law) as vice mayor of Pandeglang for two terms (2016-2024) were recorded.

KOMPAS/WAWAN H PRABOWO (WAK)

Billboards of the candidates for the head of the region in the 2020 simultaneous regional elections in South Tangerang City, Banten, were put up on Aria Putra Street in Ciputat, South Tangerang on Saturday (14/11/2020).

Then Ratu Tatu Chasanah (Queen Atut's younger sister) as Regent of Serang for two terms (2016-2024), Pilar Saga Ichsan (daughter of Ratu Tatu Chasanah) as Deputy Mayor of South Tangerang (2021-2024), Airin Rachmi Diany (Queen Atut's sister-in-law) as Mayor of South Tangerang for two terms (2011-2021), and a number of other relatives who served as members of the DPD and DPR.

Unlike Serang, which is "dominated" by the Atut Chosiyah clan, in Cilegon City, Aat Syafaat, who served as mayor for two terms (2005-2015), is a "different clan" figure although he is also from the Golkar Party. This was proven when Aat's son, Tubagus Iman Ariyadi, succeeded him as mayor in two terms (2010-2017).

Given the strong political familial ties in Banten, it is difficult to predict whether the 2024 political contestation will produce figureheads outside of current political leaders.

This is exactly what Muhlis described regarding the 2024 Banten Governor contest. "How do you want to fight against a dynasty? "It's still a long time since the regional elections, the billboards are everywhere," said Muhlis. (KOMPAS R&D)

Also read: Banten, Political Dynasties, and Lack of Elite Circulation