High political costs trigger corruption among regional heads, says analyst
A political expert from Muhammadiyah University of Yogyakarta (UMY), Ridho Al-Hamdi, has stated that the high cost of politics in regional head elections (Pilkada) is a primary trigger for recurring corruption among local officials. He explained that when a candidate requires significant funds to run for office, it creates political debts that can compromise their governance. “Pilkada is not a cheap process. When someone runs for regional head, there is often support that later creates political debts. This situation potentially influences how a regional head governs,” Ridho said in Yogyakarta on Tuesday.
His statement was made in response to a series of sting operations conducted by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) throughout 2026. As of mid-July, 16 regional heads have been implicated in corruption cases, including the recent case involving Sukoharjo Regent Etik Suryani on 10 July. Ridho noted that the high cost of politics creates a domino effect, where expensive political recruitment processes lead to the misuse of authority, particularly concerning the regional revenue and expenditure budget (APBD).
Ridho emphasised that while systemic reform is necessary, individual integrity remains a crucial factor. He argued that even a good system can be manipulated if it is not managed by figures with strong integrity. To break the chain of corruption, he urged the government and the House of Representatives (DPR) to use the momentum of revising the Election Law and the Political Party Law to reform the political funding system.
He proposed several crucial points for reform, including designing campaign mechanisms that do not rely on massive spending and strengthening strict oversight of political party finances. “Reform must be carried out comprehensively. As long as political costs remain high, the potential for corruption among regional heads will always be a threat to clean and service-oriented regional governance,” he concluded.