Single candidates: Ensuring a path to victory in local elections
| Author | Muchamad Ali Safa’at |
| DOI | http://doi.org/10.1177/20578911211062485 |
| Published date | 01 December 2022 |
| Date | 01 December 2022 |
| Subject Matter | Theoretical Endeavors |
Single candidates: Ensuring a
path to victory in local elections
Muchamad Ali Safa’at
University of Brawijaya, Indonesia
Abstract
This article analyzes the phenomenon of single candidates in Indonesia’s 2020 local elections,
where the number increased compared to the previous local elections. Although initially local
elections with single candidates were not intended, by a ruling of the Constitutional Court a
local election must still be carried out even if there is only a single pair of candidates. The number
of single candidates has increased, as it becomes an easier and cheaper way to ensure victory, par-
ticularly for incumbents. This condition is strengthened by the culture of political parties that tend
to provide support to candidates who possess a greater chance of winning in order to take control
of the government and form political cartels. Although presently it has not been indicated that sin-
gle candidates are a form of oligarchic rule and political dynasty, it may become an easy way to
obtain political power.
Keywords
local election, oligarchy, political cartels, political dynasty, single candidate
Introduction
One of the manifestations of democratization in Indonesia is the decentralization of power, in the
form of providing regional autonomy. Local or regional governments are no longer situated solely
as the extension of the central government, but as the organizers of governance in regions. Regions
constitute legal units of society that possess autonomy. This is expressed in Article 18 Paragraphs 1,
2, and 5 of the 1945 Constitution, which provides a guarantee of local government organization
based on the principle of the broadest autonomy.
The organization of local governments must be conducted democratically. Article 18 Paragraph
4 of the 1945 Constitution states that Governors, Regents, and Mayors as the chiefs of local gov-
ernments should be elected democratically. The phrase “elected democratically”was translated by
Corresponding author:
Muchamad Ali Safa’at, Faculty of Law, University of Brawijaya, Jalan MT Haryono 169, Malang, 65145, East Java, Indonesia.
Email: safaat@ub.ac.id
Theoretical Endeavors
Asian Journal of Comparative Politics
2022, Vol. 7(4) 1163–1176
© The Author(s) 2021
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DOI: 10.1177/20578911211062485
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