Oligarchic Shadows in Local Democracy: Analyzing the Dominance of Central Party Leaders in Regional Elections

Abstract

This study highlights a significant gap in the analysis of direct local elections in Indonesia, revealing a concerning shift from democratic values towards oligarchic and authoritarian practices. This shift mainly stems from the dominance of central political party leaders in the candidate selection process. Through normative legal research based on 22 literature studies, the research uncovers substantial distortions in the implementation of direct elections since the reforms. The findings show that the authority to select regional head candidates remains centralized, which contradicts the principles of regional autonomy. This centralization fosters practices such as vote-buying, deviant behaviors, and abuse of power, leading to public apathy and increased pragmatism towards money politics, ultimately degrading societal moral standards. The study emphasizes the urgent need for legal reforms to reinforce democratic principles within political parties and candidate selection processes. The broader implication of this research reflects that if stringent legal frameworks are not implemented, then oligarchic influences would persist and therefore undermine democratic governance both in Indonesia and in similar political contexts globally. This means that whatever legal measures taken must be closely watched to protect the integrity of democracy.