Democrats deem it reasonable for presidential candidates to be party cadres

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Deputy General Chairman of the Democratic Party’s Central Executive Board, Dede Yusuf, considers the Corruption Eradication Commission’s (KPK) proposal regarding presidential candidates (capres), vice-presidential candidates (cawapres), and regional heads originating from political party cadres to be reasonable.

In the context of Indonesia’s democratic system, he stated that this is a common practice because capres and cawapres are nominated or proposed through political parties as election participants.

“Because election participants are political parties. And the President or Vice President is also a party proposal. So it is reasonable that they must be party cadres,” said Dede Yusuf in Jakarta on Thursday.

He also conveyed that the majority of leaders in other countries also emerge from political party cadre development processes. Therefore, according to him, this is a common occurrence in global political practice.

On the other hand, he stated that political parties are the main participants in elections. Political parties or coalitions of parties are also authorised to propose presidential and vice-presidential candidates.

Therefore, Dede Yusuf considers becoming a political party cadre as part of the political learning process and strengthening leadership capacity.

“Becoming a cadre is part of the recruitment and cadre development pattern,” said the Deputy Chairman of Commission II of the House of Representatives.

Previously, the KPK recommended the need to revise Article 29 of the Political Parties Law, for example, Article 29 paragraph (1) letter a should be added that political party members consist of young, intermediate, and senior members.

Then, requirements for cadres who become prospective members of the DPR or DPRD are regulated, for example, prospective DPR members are senior party cadres, while prospective provincial DPRD members are intermediate cadres.

In addition, requirements for presidential and vice-presidential candidates, or candidates for regional heads and deputies, besides being democratic and open, need to include a clause originating from the party cadre system.

The KPK also proposed amending Article 29 of the Political Parties Law to regulate the minimum time requirement for joining a political party before being nominated in general elections.