Longing for a Simultaneous Regional Elections with Political Politeness

By definition, politics is the search for and the attempt to retain power, or the opposing of the exercise of power.

Kompas/Rony Ariyanto Nugroho

Voters cast their ballots on Wednesday (15/2) in the 2017 simultaneous regional election at ballot station TPS 38 Citeureup in Cimahi, West Java. The regional election in Cimahi city proceeded smoothly and saw enthusiastic participation from local residents.

The thunder of the 2017 Jakarta Regional Election has left many residents of the capital with wounds. The remnants of society’s political maturity prevented horizontal conflict from escalating. This maturity stems from a realization that the Republic of Indonesia is a diverse country, which means that pluralism is a necessity.

Next year, 2018, will be a political year, with elections to be held 171 regions. The National Police have identified five provinces with high vulnerability to conflict: West Java, East Java, North Sulawesi, South Sulawesi and Papua. The assessment was made after taking region population and political party dynamics into consideration.