Experts Discuss High Costs of Local Elections in Indonesia

The high costs associated with local elections in Indonesia have become a serious issue for the country’s democracy. According to Yusak Farchan, a political expert from Citra Institute, running in these elections demands substantial financial investments from candidates at all stages, starting from nomination. This creates significant challenges for candidates and encourages unhealthy practices in the electoral campaign. Iwan Setiawan, Director of Indonesia Political Review, notes that shifting elections to local parliaments (DPRD) could reduce costs, but there is a risk of losing transparency and accountability.