Party Deemed "Strange and Wondrous", Elected Leader Re-elected Multiple Times Despite Need for Democracy

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - Burhanuddin Muhtadi, Executive Director of Indikator Politik Indonesia, supports the idea from the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) to limit the tenure of political party general chairmen to just two periods. Burhanuddin views Indonesian parties as strange and wondrous because they fail to democratise themselves. “Oh, that is actually a revolutionary idea, part of a breakthrough for reforming our party system. Because this is strange and wondrous; parties are democratic institutions, but they often fail to democratise themselves,” said Burhanuddin when met at UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta, Ciputat, on Thursday (23/4/2026). Burhanuddin stated that one measure of the failure of internal party democratisation is the lack of regeneration within, resulting in gerontocracy. “Yet, parties are democratic institutions, but a paradox occurs,” he said. “Well, one way to boost this democratic paradox in our parties is to make a breakthrough, including the proposal from the KPK, which I think is excellent in order to enhance internal party democratisation,” Burhanuddin continued. Therefore, Burhanuddin regrets the party’s function which instead does not carry out regeneration internally. He again emphasised that democratisation within the party does not occur, considering that the general chairman can be elected multiple times.