Minimal Political Competition: Indonesia's Democracy Lacks Substance

The phenomenon of unopposed candidates in Indonesia’s regional elections and the decline in internal party competition have raised concerns about the state of democracy in the country. BRIN researcher Prof. Siti Zuhro noted in a discussion that these trends indicate a crisis in democratic principles. According to Zuhro, political parties have turned to survival strategies, avoiding fair internal competition. She pointed out that many parties hold congresses with only one candidate for the chairman position, undermining democratic foundations.

The provincial elections also show similar tendencies, where a candidate runs against an empty box, violating the spirit of democratic contest. Such practices deprive the population of the opportunity to make rational and informed choices, which can affect the country’s political stability in the long term.

Zuhro believes that the history of restricting political organizations during the New Order has led to the current leadership deficit. Developing internal competition and establishing robust party organizations become key challenges for Indonesian democracy. She emphasized the need for party system reforms to produce new quality leaders.

Without such changes, political education efforts will be futile, and the nation’s growing potential will remain unfulfilled.