Editor’s Note
- The idea of direct elections for regional administrators by the Regional People’s Representatives = a regression of democracy
- Regional elections are the result of the people’s struggle to preserve democracy
- The people have the right to choose their leaders
The idea of direct elections for regional administrators by the Regional People’s Representatives = a regression of democracy
Robi Barus, leader of the PDI-P faction in the Medan Regional People’s Representatives, emphasized his rejection of the idea of no longer holding direct elections for regional administrators by the people and returning them to the Regional People’s Representatives.
According to him, this idea is a form of democratic regression and a violation of the people’s right to vote.
Regional elections are the result of the people’s struggle to preserve democracy
Robi Barus believes that the introduction of direct elections for regional administrators is the result of the Indonesian people’s long struggle to preserve democracy. Therefore, the PDI-P firmly rejects any attempt to undermine the people’s right to choose their leaders.
“The idea of direct regional elections (Pilkada), in which the regional parliament (DPRD) elects the leaders, is a step backward in democracy and deprives the people of their right to vote. The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP) firmly supports this position; we reject anything that undermines democratic values in this country,” Robi Barus told the media on Friday, January 9, 2026.
He emphasized that there is no justifiable reason to transfer the mechanism for direct regional elections to the DPRD, including budgetary considerations or other reasons.
“There is no justification for this, including budgetary constraints or other reasons, because nothing is more valuable than upholding the nation’s democratic values and giving the people the freedom to choose their leaders,” he stated.
The people have the right to choose their leaders
Robi Barus also reminded the Indonesian people that they had fought hard for presidential elections and regional leadership elections to be held directly by the people, and not through the DPR or DPRD.
“We must remember and appreciate this struggle. It was about fighting for the people’s right to choose their leaders. The people have the right to choose their representatives, and the people also have the right to choose their leaders, whether they are national or regional leaders. Do not take away the people’s rights for any reason; let the people be free to choose,” he said.
Responding to the assumption that many regional officials directly elected in regional elections are involved in corruption cases, Robi Barus emphasized that there is no guarantee that regional officials elected by the Regional People’s Representative Council (DPRD) will be free from such practices.
“If there are rats in the rice granary, we kill the rats, we don’t set the rice granary on fire. The point is, no policy is perfect, but there is no greater mistake than taking away the rights of the people,” he concluded. ***was
