Inauguration of Regional Heads, KIM Plus Dominance Does Not Guarantee Central-Regional Harmony

JAKARTA, KOMPAS – The dominance of regional heads and deputy heads resulting from the 2024 Regional Head Elections or Pilkada, supported by the Coalition for Advanced Indonesia or KIM plus, a coalition of political parties supporting President Prabowo Subianto's administration, is considered not to guarantee the alignment of central and regional policies and programs. The lack of synchronization between the central and regional governments has so far been rooted in legislation.

The inauguration of 481 regional heads and deputy regional heads by President Prabowo Subianto will be held at the Presidential Palace Complex, Jakarta, on Wednesday (19/2/2025). Prior to the inauguration of these hundreds of regional heads, 24 regional heads and deputy regional heads had already been inaugurated. Besides that, there are still 40 election results whose disputes are still being processed in the Constitutional Court (MK). The MK's decision is planned to be announced at the end of this February.

If viewed from the results determined by the General Election Commission (KPU) in 545 regions or all regions holding local elections, the heads and deputy heads of regions supported by KIM plus dominate.

At the provincial level that held regional elections, totaling 37 provinces, the results of the Kompas Research and Development mapping, as many as 70.4 percent of elected regional heads and deputy heads were supported by KIM plus. Then as many as 11.7 percent of regional leaders were supported by KIM plus together with the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P). Outside of that, as many as 14.7 percent were supported by PDI-P and 2.9 percent were supported by political parties outside KIM plus and PDI-P.

At the regency/city level, with a total of 508 regencies/cities, 43.1 percent of the elected heads and deputy heads of regions were supported by KIM plus. Additionally, 22.9 percent were supported by KIM Plus along with the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P). The others, 17.6 percent, were supported by PDI-P and 15.6 percent were supported by parties outside of KIM and PDI-P.

Political parties within the KIM plus include Gerindra, Golkar, National Mandate Party, Democratic Party, National Awakening Party (PKB), Nasdem Party, and Partai Keadilan Sejahtera.

In addition to the dominance of KIM plus, regional leaders with an incumbent background are also more numerous than newcomers. At the district/city level, 52.7 percent were won by incumbents. Meanwhile, at the provincial level, 52.9 percent were incumbents.

Then, if viewed from the professional background, as many as 70.9 percent of elected governors-deputy governors have a background as politicians. The same number at the regent-deputy regent level and mayor-deputy mayor. A more complete review of the political map of the 2024 Pilkada results, the dominance of incumbents, and the professional background of elected regional heads-deputy heads, can be read in the Kompas Daily and Kompas.id on February 20-21, 2025.

Although the political map in the regions is dominated by KIM plus, regional leaders are dominated by incumbents, and politicians are dominant, the Executive Director of the Regional Autonomy Implementation Monitoring Committee (KPPOD) Herman N Suparman when interviewed on Wednesday (2/19/2025), saw that it did not guarantee the alignment of central-regional programs and development. This central-regional alignment is the goal of holding simultaneous regional elections and inaugurations of regional heads and deputy heads.

Because, the lack of synchronization between the center and regions so far is considered to be rooted in laws and regulations and strategic policies. In more detail, the disharmony between the Regional Government Law and sectoral laws to the many policies that still overlap.

For example, the inconsistency of Law Number 23 of 2014 concerning Regional Government with the Mineral and Coal Law, the Job Creation Law, Herman continued, is actually the source of obstacles to the formation of central and regional harmonization. The inconsistency of regulations hinders the orchestration between ministries and institutions in the context of coaching and supervision to the regions. That is also what causes sectoral ministries to run alone, not in harmony with the regions.

"The strategic policies issued by the center so far have always used a top-down approach," said Herman.

In addition to policy governance, the problem so far has also been in the problem of planning and budgeting governance. In the first year, the preparation of the Regional Medium-Term Development Plan or RPJMD usually takes quite a long time, and this is a challenge for regional heads.

The regional planning must then be translated into the annual Regional Government Work Plan (RKPD) which is aligned with the national Government Work Plan (RKP). If this synchronization is not achieved, the effectiveness of central and regional development is said to be disrupted.

"Will there be an effort to review all regional planning, starting from the RPJMD to the RKPD, will it be reviewed by the central government itself? That is what we think is very important if we talk about the harmony of central-regional development," said Herman.

From the budgeting side, Herman continued, there are still problems with regional fiscal capacity. Minimal budget support and large funding needs as well as suboptimal incentive and disincentive approaches from the center to the regions.

Moreover, with the policy of cutting the regional transfer budget (TKD) to Rp 50.59 trillion, which will certainly have an impact on the condition of fiscal sustainability in the majority of regions. The majority of regional governments at the district/city level do not yet have fiscal independence and are still very dependent on fund transfers from the center.

"The root of the problem still lies in a number of strategic policies and symmetrical approaches that have been implemented so far," said Herman.

According to Herman, KPPOD continues to encourage the central government to use an asymmetric approach. With this asymmetric approach, regions will have different priorities for government affairs according to the character of the region and the needs of its people. Therefore, he reminded the central government not to ignore urgent regional programs that require central assistance.

"For example, related to infrastructure development for the DKI Jakarta region and provinces on the island of Java is no longer a major issue, so that their general allocation funds (DAU) that have been determined are related to connectivity, for example, can be minimized. Meanwhile, for provinces outside Java, the emphasis is on the DAU. That's what we have been proposing all this time," said Herman.

Herman continued, if the challenges to the governance framework for planning, budgeting, and policies are not addressed, it could have an impact on public services in the regions which will be disrupted.

He also reminded the central government to open more space for dialogue and involve local governments in formulating every strategic policy.

"We think that's what must also be prioritized for the next five years. When issuing policies related to regional governments, they must be involved. Similar to what was determined by the Constitutional Court with meaningful participation. This means asking more questions to the regions first, what is needed," said Herman.

Not only through the regional elections and the simultaneous inauguration of the head and deputy head, the government is trying to align central-regional policies and programs through the holding of a regional head retreat at the Military Academy Complex, Magelang, after tomorrow's inauguration. The retreat will be held for seven days.

Deputy Minister of Home Affairs Bima Arya Sugiarto when interviewed on Friday (2/14/2025), said that the provision for regional heads in the retreat aims to synchronize the vision and mission of regional heads with Astacita carried by President Prabowo Subianto. Thus, development in the regions can be in line with the direction of national development through the eight priority programs of Astacita.

The retreat will also equip regional heads from various backgrounds with an understanding of the main tasks and functions (tupoksi) of government.

Another important goal of the retreat, according to Bima, is to build relationships or strengthen emotional bonds between all regional heads. This emotional bond is considered important because coordination will be needed not only between regional heads and ministers, but also between regional heads.