The dominance of incumbent legislative candidates in DKI Jakarta is difficult to stop

Many candidates for incumbent DPR members are in the top ten with the most votes in DKI Jakarta. Why is that?

The following article was translated using both Microsoft Azure Open AI and Google Translation AI. The original article can be found in Dominasi Caleg Petahana di DKI Jakarta Sulit Dibendung

KOMPAS/RADITYA HELABUMI

Visitors are enjoying their holiday at the National Monument in Jakarta, Thursday (6/6/2019).

JAKARTA, KOMPAS – Candidates for incumbent DPR members "dominated" the contestation in three electoral districts in DKI Jakarta. Many are in the top ten who received the most votes in each electoral district and have the opportunity to return to Senayan, where members of the DPR work. This achievement is considered the result of their work caring for their constituents.

In the first electoral district (Dapil) of DKI Jakarta, which encompasses East Jakarta, there are a total of seven incumbent members of parliament who made it to the top 10 most voted members of parliament based on the manual vote tally by KPU DKI Jakarta on March 7-9, 2024. Please note that there are no forbidden words in this article.

The seven are Mardani Ali Sera (176,584 votes) and Anis Byarwati (64,304 votes) from the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS), Putra Nababan (105,559 votes) and Sondang Tampubolon (68,370 votes) from the PDI Perjuangan, Habiburokhman (96,914 votes) from the Gerindra Party, Eko Hendro Purnomo (93,673 votes) from the National Mandate Party (PAN), and Ahmad Ali (56,364) from the Nasdem Party. Specifically, Ahmad Ali in the 2019 elections ran from the Central Sulawesi electoral district. The total number of seats being contested in this electoral district is six.

Three others, new candidate lawmakers, are Hasbiallah Ilyas from the National Awakening Party (PKB) with 80,895 votes, Faldo Maldini from the Indonesian Solidarity Party (PSI) who garnered 56,725 votes, and Ario Bimo Nandito from the Golkar Party who is known by the name Dito Ariotedjo, the Minister of Youth and Sports, received 55,560 votes.

Also read: After 20 Years, PKS Dominates DKI Jakarta Again, Displaces PDI-P

FRAKSI PKS DPR

Member of Commission II from the Justice and Prosperous Party Faction, Mardani Ali Sera.

DKI Jakarta II

As for Central Jakarta and South Jakarta which belong to the DKI Jakarta II electoral district, there are six incumbent members of parliament among the top 10 candidates who received the most votes.

The six are Hidayat Nur Wahid from PKS who received 205,545 votes, Himmatul Aliyah from the Gerindra Party (68,445 votes), Kurniasih Mufidayati from PKS (56,982 votes), Melani Leimena Suharli from the Democratic Party ( 53,763 votes), as well as Masinton Pasaribu (44,243 votes) and Eriko Sotarduga (40,880 votes) from PDI-P.

Four others, Abraham Sridjaja from Golkar Party (60,906 votes), Ida Fauziyah from PKB (60,180 votes) who currently serves as the Minister of Manpower, Once Mekel from PDI-P (47,896 votes), and Uya Kuya from PAN (46,326 votes).

However, the top 10 candidates for DPR members with the largest amount of votes in Dapil DKI Jakarta II could still change. This is because we are still waiting for the completion of the rerun voting process in Kuala Lumpur, which is being held today. Dapil DKI Jakarta II also includes voters overseas.

Also read: PSU in Kuala Lumpur Held Tomorrow, KPU Ensures Readiness for Implementation

ADRYAN YOGA PARAMADWYA

The potential presidential candidate of the Unity for Change Coalition (KPP), Anies Baswedan (second from the left), took a photo together with the Deputy Chairman of the Majelis Syura PKS, Hidayat Nur Wahid (second from the right), President of PKS Ahmad Syaikhu (right), as well as representatives of laborers and online motorcycle taxi drivers at the PKS central office in Jakarta on Saturday (6/5/2023).

DKI Jakarta III

Unlike DKI Jakarta I and II, in the DKI Jakarta III constituency which includes the areas of Kepulauan Seribu Regency, North Jakarta City, and West Jakarta City, incumbent DPR candidates have lost to those who have never been a DPR member. Out of the 10 candidates who received the most votes, only four are incumbents.

The four incumbents referred to are Ahmad Sahroni from the Nasdem Party (163,292 votes), Charles Honoris from the PDI-P (97,016 votes), Adang Daradjatun from the PKS (95,773 votes), and Darmadi Durianto from the PDI-P (95,553 votes).

Meanwhile, the non-incumbent candidates are Grace Natalie from PSI (193,478 votes), Erwin Aksa from Golkar Party (186,897 votes), Ermi Yusfa from PKS (60,440 votes) - which cannot be translated, Rahayu Saraswati from Gerindra Party (52,932 votes), Sigit Purnomo alias Pasha Ungu from PAN (50,222 votes), and Ahmed Zaki Iskandar from Golkar Party (49,022 votes).

A total of 21 seats in the Indonesian Parliament (DPR) are up for grabs in Jakarta Province. There are six seats in the Jakarta District I, seven in Jakarta District II, and eight in Jakarta District III. It remains unclear which of the top 10 candidates with the highest vote count in each district will be elected to parliament. The determination of who will obtain these seats will be made during the national vote recapitulation by the General Election Commission (KPU RI). This determination is not only based on the highest vote count, but also on the requirement that political parties must pass the 4 percent parliamentary threshold besides the calculation of vote conversions into seats by using the Sainte Lague method.

KOMPAS/HERU SRI KUMORO

Ahmad Sahroni was interviewed by journalists, Wednesday (1/6/2022).

Caring for constituents

Observing the phenomenon of many incumbent candidates receiving high votes in DKI Jakarta, Executive Director of Algoritma Research and Consulting, Aditya Perdana is not surprised. Not only in Jakarta, he sees the potential for similar phenomena to occur in other regions.

The chance for incumbents to return to the parliament is great because they are already well known by their constituents. They are also perceived to have sufficient financial capital as a campaign asset in their respective regions. Moreover, if the incumbent diligently cares for their constituents during the recess of the House of Representatives. Caring in the sense of intensive communication, advocating for the needs of the people, and helping with what they need.

"This is the benefit of incumbents. They can offer their experience and achievements. Moreover, the voters are not going anywhere. Candidates only need to regularly take care of their voter base. For example, if their vote count is 100,000, then they only need to be focused on that," he said when contacted from Jakarta on Sunday (10/3/2024).

When the incumbent moves to a different electoral district or no longer participates in the contest, only then can new candidates shine. Without this element, the chances for new candidates to successfully enter the parliament is extremely difficult.

Also read:

>Incumbent Legislative Candidate Wins Most Votes in Electoral District DKI Jakarta I

> DKI Jakarta Recapitulation: Once and Uya Kuya Remain at the Top of the Vote Acquisition

> Dominated by "New People", Grace Natalie Wins Most Votes in DKI Jakarta III

KOMPAS/HENDRA A SETYAWAN

Park officials water the flowers in front of the Nusantara or Turtle Building, Parliament Complex, Jakarta, on Monday (14/8/2023). Preparations continue to be made ahead of the Annual Session of the MPR, which will be followed by a joint session of the DPR and DPD on August 16, 2023. This year's Annual Session of the MPR is special because it is the last before the presidential and legislative elections.

Translation: "The political cost in Indonesia is high. New candidates must have something to offer, whether it is popularity or a large capital. If not, I think new candidates have no chance," he said.

He cited a number of new legislative candidates such as Uya Kuya, Once Mekel, and Erwin Aksa who are not incumbent candidates. All three received massive votes driven by their popularity and significant financial resources.

If there is no popularity or capital, support can be gathered by first becoming a member of the provincial DPRD. Only after being elected, diligently caring for constituents, and then stepping into the contestation for selecting DPR Members.