KPK: Political Corruption Rooted in Transactional Cadre Development

The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has revealed that the potential for political corruption does not only occur when an individual holds public office, but takes root from political processes such as cadre development that is rife with transactions and lacks accountability.

On that basis, the KPK is pushing for improvements in the governance system of political parties (parpol) as an important step to create an integrity-filled climate for General Elections (Pemilu) and Regional Head Elections (Pilkada).

“The KPK views that the potential for political corruption does not only occur when someone holds public office, but often takes root from political processes such as cadre development systems that are full of transactions and minimal accountability,” stated KPK Spokesperson Budi Prasetyo in a written statement on Saturday (25/4).

Budi explained that the implementation of improvements is through studies in the framework of corruption prevention, as mandated by Law Number 19 of 2019 on the KPK.

Article 6 letter c states that the KPK is tasked with monitoring the implementation of state governance.

Then, in Article 9, it is stated that in carrying out such monitoring, the KPK is authorised to conduct studies on the administrative management system in all state institutions and government institutions.

In the study conducted by the Directorate of Monitoring in the Deputy for Prevention and Monitoring in 2025, the KPK captured three points related to elections and politics.

Namely, identification of corruption potential in the implementation of elections; governance of integrity-filled political parties; and restrictions on cash transactions.

“These three aspects are considered to have a close interconnection in opening loopholes for corrupt practices that impact the quality of democracy and governance,” explained Budi.

In compiling the study, the KPK involved four groups of resource persons, namely representatives of parliamentary and non-parliamentary political parties; election and regional head election organisers; electoral experts or observers; and academics.

From the identification results, said Budi, the KPK detailed at least 10 points indicating the urgency of improving the political party governance system.

One of the main findings from the internal party governance side. The KPK highlighted the absence of an integrated roadmap for political education between the government and political parties.

The weakness in integration between recruitment processes and party cadre systems is also seen as one of the triggers for political dowry practices.

The KPK, continued Budi, also identified the absence of a standardisation system for political party financial reporting, resulting in weak transparency and accountability in fund usage.

The same applies to the unavailability of a special supervisory body in the cadre development process, political education, and party financial management, which increases the risk of deviations.

“Not to mention the findings on the high winning costs that election and regional head election participants must bear,” revealed Budi.

“Such high political costs drive transactional practices in the candidate nomination process for legislative members or regional heads, including the emergence of political dowries and potential misuse of resources after candidates are elected,” he added.

Furthermore, the KPK also found indications of bribery to election organisers aimed at manipulating electoral results.

In addition, there are still gaps in the recruitment and selection process for election and regional head election organisers that are not optimal, thus potentially producing non-integrity organisers.

Law enforcement for election and regional head election violations is also seen as not running optimally.

Budi added that the KPK also highlighted the dominant use of cash in election contests due to the absence of regulations limiting cash transactions.

This condition is seen as increasing the opportunities for vote-buying or money politics, which has long been a classic problem in electoral democracy.

Recommendations

Budi emphasised the urgency of mitigating this political corruption potential as part of systemic improvement efforts in strategic sectors.

The KPK, he said, has reported and officially submitted the study results along with recommendation points to the President and the Chairman of the People’s Representative Council (DPR) RI as a form of report to encourage the swift realisation of political system reforms.

Based on the identification results, the KPK provides three main recommendations that are considered important to be implemented immediately.

First, making regulatory changes to Law Number 7 of 2017 on Elections and Law Number 10 of 2016 on Regional Head Elections, particularly in aspects of election organiser recruitment, campaign methods, voting methods, vote counting and recapitulation, as well as strengthening sanction articles.

Second, making regulatory changes to Law Number 2 of 2008 on Political Parties as amended by Law Number 2 of 2011, by adding scopes for standardisation of political education, cadre development, and political party financial reporting.

Third, the KPK urges the government together with the DPR to immediately conduct substantive discussions on the Draft Law on Cash Restrictions as an important instrument in preventing money politics practices.

Specifically for the discussion of the Cash Restrictions Bill, the KPK considers this urgent because money politics practices through physical cash transactions are still rampant.

This pattern becomes one of the entry points for recurring political corruption that is difficult to monitor.

“It is hoped that improvements in the political party governance system, especially in the cadre development system, recruitment, and political education, will not only strengthen democracy but also create transparent and accountable cadre development and candidate nomination processes,” said Budi.