Golkar Backs Proposal for Regional Elections Without Deputy Candidates

The Golkar Party has backed a proposal for the House of Representatives (DPR) to form a special committee (Pansus) to discuss the idea of regional elections without deputy candidates. Golkar argues that the current system, where pairs are elected, often leads to political transactional costs and dysfunctional working relationships.

Ahmad Doli Kurnia, Deputy Chairman of Golkar and a member of House Commission II, stated that the party supports the formation of a Pansus to deliberate on electoral law revisions. ‘I have been proposing this since last year,’ Doli said on Friday (14/8/2026). ‘The first consideration is that the relationship between regional heads and their deputies is almost entirely disharmonious. Very few regions see a good relationship last until the end of the term. The majority experience poor relations, if not outright conflict.’

Doli explained that eliminating the deputy position from the ballot would significantly reduce political costs. He noted that the process of forming candidate pairs often involves transactional politics, with agreements made on the division of authority and economic spoils to recoup campaign expenses. ‘This concept makes financing cheaper, both during the election and in operational costs for the regional government,’ he said. ‘The high cost of politics, including regional elections, is partly caused by these political transactions.’

He further argued that the statutory role of a deputy regional head is minimal, largely protocol and ceremonial, and heavily dependent on delegation from the head. Doli proposed that if a deputy position is still deemed necessary, it should be limited to the provincial level, where a governor could appoint a senior civil servant (ASN) to the role to assist in coordinating districts and cities, especially in large provinces.

The discussion follows an earlier proposal by PKB faction member Muhammad Khozin during a Commission II meeting with the Ministry of Home Affairs. Khozin suggested that regional elections should only select a head, with the deputy appointed directly by the elected leader to prevent the position from being used merely to attract votes.