Home Affairs Minister Considers Proposing Campaign Spending Limits in Election Law Revision
Home Affairs Minister Muhammad Tito Karnavian is considering proposing regulations to limit the costs of regional head elections (Pilkada) in an effort to suppress rampant corruption among local executive officials. The former National Police chief stated that the limitation of campaign expenses could be regulated in the revision of Law Number 7 of 2017 on Elections.
“It is possible [to be regulated in the Election Law]. How do we regulate the limitation of campaign costs?” he said at the House of Representatives building in Jakarta on Thursday, 16 July 2026. “For instance, whether donations given to regional head candidates should be announced to the public, transparently,” he continued.
Regarding the transparency of campaign donations, Tito cited the United States as an example worth emulating. In the US, the limit for individual contributions to a candidate is 3,500 US dollars, or approximately Rp 63 million at an exchange rate of Rp 17,982 per US dollar.
“Perhaps we can limit the amount of money that can be donated to a regional head candidate they support. These rules might need to be regulated,” he said.
However, to follow up on this option, he stressed that it is not solely the decision of the minister. It also requires the approval of the House of Representatives (DPR) as the legislative body.
Tito explained that the high number of regional heads caught in sting operations by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) is due to the exorbitant cost of elections, which cannot be covered by a regional head’s salary. Consequently, he said, they seek deviant means to recoup their expenses.
“It is the system or the environment that forces them to seek illegitimate ways. Secondly, it could also be due to individual factors. [Their salary] is sufficient, but they want more,” he said.
As the central government, Tito said his role is limited to supervision, prevention, and issuing reminders. He emphasised that the Ministry of Home Affairs does not have the authority to select or dismiss regional heads.
“This comes back to the integrity of each regional head. And they are not children. We cannot supervise regional heads 24 hours a day, seven days a week, staring at them; it is impossible,” Tito stated.
In the first two years of President Prabowo Subianto’s administration, 15 regional heads have been implicated in corruption cases. The most recent was the arrest of Sukoharjo Regent Etik Suryani by the KPK on 9 July 2026 for alleged extortion of local government officials within the Sukoharjo Regency administration.
A week earlier, the KPK also named Langkat Regent Syah Afandin as a suspect in an alleged project bribery and gratuity case.
The list of regional heads implicated in corruption cases and subsequently suspended includes: East Kolaka Regent Abdul Azis (7-8 August 2025), Riau Governor Abdul Wahid (3 November 2025), Ponorogo Regent Sugiri Sancoko (7 November 2025), Central Lampung Regent Ardito Wijaya (9-10 December 2025), Bekasi Regent Ade Kuswara Kunang (18 December 2025), Madiun Mayor Maidi (19 January 2026), Pati Regent Sudewo (19 January 2026), Pekalongan Regent Fadia Arafiq (3 March 2026), Rejang Lebong Regent Muhammad Fikri Thobari (9 March 2026), Cilacap Regent Syamsul Auliya Rachman (13 March 2026), Tulungagung Regent Gatut Sunu Wibowo (10 April 2026), Muara Enim Regent Edison (8 June 2026), Kuansing Regent Suhardiman Amby (30 June 2026), Langkat Regent Syah Afandin (2 July 2026), and Sukoharjo Regent Etik Suryani (9 July 2026).