Benny K. Harman Rejects the Idea of Indirect Elections: Budget is Not the Reason

The issue of regional elections has sparked significant debate in Indonesia. Benny Kabur Harman, a member of the Indonesian House of Representatives Commission III, has strongly disagreed with the proposal for regional heads to be elected through local legislative bodies (DPRD). This proposal came from Bahlil Lahadalia, the chairman of the Golkar party, who suggested using the indirect voting method to reduce costs and avoid political corruption. However, Harman argues that this does not address the core issues of current elections, such as monetary influence and lack of transparency. It could also undermine democracy and diminish citizens’ impact on politics. Instead, he insists on improving election laws, introducing clear norms and strict sanctions for violators. Harman believes that the government should fund elections, and budget savings should not justify reducing democratic standards.