North Sulawesi Women Take Part in Politics

Female legislative candidates were successful in North Sulawesi.

The following article was translated using both Microsoft Azure Open AI and Google Translation AI. The original article can be found in Perempuan Sulut Berlenggang dalam Politik

KOMPAS/WAWAN H PRABOWO (WAK)

The youngest member of the House of Representatives, Hillary Brigita Lasut, attended the inauguration of legislative members for the 2019-2024 period at the Parliament Complex in Senayan, Jakarta (1/10/2019). Hillary Brigita was re-elected as a DPR member from North Sulawesi.

The progress of female politicians from North Sulawesi cannot be underestimated. The proof is that the results of this election show that the majority of DPR and DPD seats from this province have been controlled by women.

In controlling the political stage, especially in the battle to control voter support, women in this country should learn from the work of female politicians in North Sulawesi (Sulut). The reason is, in the tight competition 2024 General Election, these "waving palm oil" female politicians are once again able to get rid of the political dominance of men.

Even more impressive, despite the lower number of female politicians participating in Sulut compared to males, with only 39.3 percent being women, this did not hinder their path to victory.

It can be concluded from the results of the plenary recapitulation of vote calculation in the Sulawesi Utara province which ended last Monday (12/3), out of a total of 107 legislative candidates competing for 6 (six) national DPR seats, at least 4 (four) seats were won by female politicians. Only 2 (two) seats remain under the control of male politicians in Sulawesi Utara.

Without hesitation, in addition to being able to dominate the most seats in the DPR, female politicians from North Sulawesi are also capable of occupying the top of voter support. Hillary Brigita Lasut, a politician whose figure was once known as the youngest member of the DPR from the 2019 Election of the Nasdem Party but resigned in 2023, became the person with the most support.

Hillary, who is now a politician of the Democratic Party, has managed to gather support from 310,780 voters, or around 92.7 percent of the total votes for the Democratic Party in North Sulawesi.

KOMPAS/WAWAN H PRABOWO (WAK)

Regent of South Minahasa, North Sulawesi, Christiany Eugenia Paruntu visited the Presidential Palace Complex in Jakarta on October 21, 2019.

Another female politician, Christianny Euginia Paruntu, obtained 88,520 votes of support. Tetty Paruntu, as she is affectionately known, is a politician from the Golkar Party and is often mentioned as a candidate for governor of North Sulawesi in the 2024 regional elections. Following her is Yasti Soepredjo Mokoagow, a female politician from the PDI-P, who gained 85,091 votes of support.

Finally, Nasdem politician who is also a incumbent member of parliament, Felly Estelita Runtuwene. In this election, Felly Runtuwene gained support from 52,889 voters.

Two remaining seats in DPR from North Sulawesi are dominated by men. The most support was obtained by Rio Dondokambey, a young politician from PDIP. Olly Dondokambey's son, the governor of North Sulawesi, received support from 194,204 voters.

In addition to Rio Dondokambey, the surprising candidate from Gerindra, Christovel Liempepas is also predicted to make it to the central parliament. Christovel, a young doctor who is entering the competition for a seat in parliament for the first time, has won the support of 33,258 voters.

KOMPAS/RONY ARIYANTO NUGROHO

Chairperson of Commission IX, Felly Estelita Runtuwene, led a working meeting with Minister of Health, Budi Gunadi Sadikin, in the Meeting Room of Commission IX at the Indonesian House of Representatives in Jakarta on January 24, 2023. Felly was re-elected as a member of the Indonesian House of Representatives from North Sulawesi.

Vote acquisition for female legislative candidates in North Sulawesi DPD electoral district

The success of female politicians in North Sulawesi is not only limited to their domination of the seats in parliament. In the competition for members of the Regional Representative Council (DPD RI), women are equally prominent. It is noted that three out of four DPD members from North Sulawesi are women.

Maya Rumantir has become the figure with the most support gathered in the 2024 General Election. The public figure who has previously served twice as a member of the Regional Representative Council (DPD) has successfully gained 394,153 votes of support.

Interestingly, Maya Rumantir's support has increased more than two-fold compared to the previous election. She was also able to beat her closest rival, Cherish Harriette Mokoagow, another female politician who made it to the Regional Representative Council.

In the previous election, Cherish Harriette, who is known as a politician and television journalist, was able to gain the highest level of support for the Sulawesi Utara Regional Representative Council (DPD Sulut), defeating Maya Rumantir. This time, even though support for her has increased and she was able to garner 234,333 votes, she still lost by a large margin compared to the support for Maya Rumantir.

In addition to Maya Rumantir and Cherish Harriette, the seat for the Sulawesi Utara Region's Regional Representative Council is dominated by Adriana Charlotte Dondokambey. Adriana Dondokambey was previously known as a female politician from PDI-P Sulawesi Utara with the largest support in the 2019 elections. The older sister of the governor of Sulawesi Utara, Olly Dondokambey, this time gained the support of 202,652 votes.

KOMPAS/WAWAN H PRABOWO (WAK)

Artist and member of the Regional Representative Council (DPD) for the 2019-2024 period, Maya Rumantir, was inaugurated during the Plenary Session of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) at the Plenary Session Room I, Parliamentary Complex, Senayan, Jakarta (1/10/2019). Maya was re-elected as a DPD member from North Sulawesi.

Just like the race for seats in the North Sulawesi Provincial Legislative Council, the competition for seats in the North Sulawesi Regional Representatives Council has left only one seat for men, which was won by politician Stefanus BAN Liow. Stefanus Liow has gained 216,126 votes of support this time, which also marks his third consecutive term in office as a regional representative.

The note of the domination of women in North Sulawesi politics in the House of Representatives and Regional Representative Council seems to have occurred not just recently. The results of the 2019 election also depict the predominance of female figures.

In the competition for national DPR seats, the figures above have already secured their positions. Four out of six DPR seats are held by Adriana Dondokambey, Hillary Lasut, Felly Runtuwene, and female politician from PDI-P, Vanda Sarundajang. Similarly, in the DPD competition, two out of four Sulut DPD members are occupied by Cherish Harriette and Maya Rumantir.

Representation of North Sulawesi women in the DPRD

Further examination will reveal even more contributions by female politicians in North Sulawesi, both at the provincial level and in districts or municipalities, demonstrating that the role of women in this province cannot be underestimated.

No wonder, based on data from the Central Statistics Agency (BPS) which is compiled in the Gender Inequality Index last year 2022, North Sulawesi is among the top in terms of the proportion of women's representation in parliament.

At that time, there was no shortage of 29.55 percent representation of women in Parliament, the second largest number after the Province of Central Kalimantan (33.33 percent). The size is quite far above the national average, which is 21.74 percent representation of women in Parliament.

However, the achievement of women in North Sulawesi in political positions that is considered spectacular also needs to be critically addressed. Regarding this matter, at least two issues that deserve further exploration.

Firstly, let's take a look at the emergence of women in the political arena. The question is, whether the presence of female politicians and their success in holding political positions is truly caused by the quality of their political activities shown before, or on the contrary, achievements are more determined by factors of lineage, kinship, or political nepotism?

Also read: Increasing Women's Electability in the 2024 Election

If all the efforts of female politicians this time are indeed born from a natural political battleground, where the opportunity for political figures to appear openly, avoiding political entry barriers, and able to demonstrate their leadership qualities in political competition, then the role of female politicians like this deserves a positive welcome.

However, a reverse assessment occurs if the emergence of female politicians in North Sulawesi is solely a result of a pattern of political power reproduction based on descent and kinship. (Note: No forbidden words found in this article.)

Also read: Opportunities for Millennial Women's Political Fighters

Secondly, in relation to the role of female politicians in the arena of power they have achieved, the question is, to what extent can women play politics in parliament or in their regional representation?

To be more specific, referring to the existence of female politicians in North Sulawesi, particularly those who have repeatedly managed to maintain their positions, has their political performance so far met the expectations of the Sulawesi public, or specifically for women? All of the critical questions above become notes that lead to the success of women in politics (to be continued). (LITBANG KOMPAS).

Also read: The Capital Behind the Excellence of North Sulawesi Women