Reasons Why KPK Proposes Presidential Candidates Must Come from Party Cadres

The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has proposed several improvements to the governance of political parties (parpol) in a report released by the Directorate of Monitoring on Friday (17 April).

In addition to proposing a limit of two terms for the general chairperson of political parties, KPK also suggests that candidates for president, vice president, and regional heads must come from cadres or have undergone a cadre development system.

KPK proposes revisions to Article 29 of Law Number 2 of 2011 on Political Parties, which regulates this matter.

“To ensure the integration of sustainable, tiered recruitment and cadre development, a transparent and integrated cadre development system needs to be established as a reference for nominations in legislative and executive positions,” stated Deputy for Prevention and Monitoring at KPK, Aminudin, when asked about the reasons for the proposal on Saturday (25 April).

He explained that this aligns with the Constitutional Court (MK) Decision Number 60/PUU-XXII/2024.

According to him, the decision should serve as a reference for political parties in nominating their cadres as regional head candidates, thereby reducing the occurrence of political transaction fees.

However, following the MK decision, he clarified, political parties that meet the threshold still do not nominate their own party cadres, but instead nominate cadres from other parties, which has the potential to lead to transaction fees.

“This aligns with the findings of a study indicating weaknesses in the integration of recruitment and cadre development, which pose a risk of political transaction fees,” Aminudin explained.

In the recommendations of that study, KPK urges the Ministry of Home Affairs (Kemendagri) to develop standards for party cadre development systems with political financing assistance (Banpol).

Furthermore, through revisions to the Political Parties Law, KPK also recommends establishing party tiers from youth, intermediate, to advanced levels.

These tiers would then serve as requirements for nominating cadres in elections for both legislative and executive positions.

For example, youth cadres could only run at the regency/city DPRD level, intermediate at the provincial DPRD level, and advanced at the national DPR RI level.

There would also be a minimum membership duration before one can be nominated.

“The requirements for cadres as prospective DPR/DPRD candidates are clearly stated and tiered in the Law Article 29 paragraph (1a). For example: DPR candidates come from advanced cadres, provincial DPRD candidates from intermediate cadres,” as quoted from the KPK study.

“Adding a minimum time requirement for joining the party to be nominated by the party.”