CSIS: 138 Candidate Legislators Connected to Political Dynasties

Head of the Department of Politics and Social Change at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), Arya Fernandes, revealed that as many as 138 of the 580 projected to become members of the DPR were indicated to be connected to political dynasties. This was conveyed at the “Launching of the ‘Our Parliament’ Dashboard and Talkshow for Elected Young Legislative Members” in Senayan, South Jakarta (24/4).

“They have kinship relations with political officials, such as incumbent DPR members, or executive officials, such as regional leaders,” said Arya.

Arya explained that of the 138 candidates who were indicated to be associated with political dynasties, candidates from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP) ranked first with 30 people. Followed by the Golongan Karya Party (Golkar) with 27 legislators, the Democratic National Party (Nasdem) with 23 people, the Greater Indonesia Movement Party (Gerindra) with 22 candidates, and the National Awakening Party (PKB) with 12 legislators. Meanwhile, the Democratic Party and the National Mandate Party (PAN) each have nine legislators, and the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) has six legislators.

Arya further explained that 53 legislators were the children of political officials, followed by the wives of 30 officials. Then the official’s younger siblings are 20 legislators, the official’s husbands are 10 legislators, the official’s brothers and nephews are each 7 candidates, and the remaining 11 candidates are from other categories of relatives.

“Even though the representation of elected female legislative candidates has increased compared to the previous election, there are indications that 45.67% of the 127 female legislative candidates are associated with political dynasties,” he explained.

In the projection of female legislative candidates, CSIS found that 58 of the 127 female legislative candidates were related to political dynasties. PDIP is the party with the most female legislative candidates associated with political dynasties, with 16 of the 27 female legislators. Gerindra Party 11 out of 19 female legislative candidates and Nasdem Party 12 out of 21 female legislative candidates are related to political dynasties.

“Only 69 female legislative candidates are not associated with political parties,” he concluded. []