Indonesia's Gerindra party backs the proposal for regional heads to be elected by local councils (DPRD) as a bold move to reform the costly regional election system. DPP Chairman Prasetyo Hadi highlights high political costs and substantial state expenditures as key reasons. The support aligns with views from party leader and President Prabowo Subianto.
Jakarta, December 29, 2025 – Gerindra party's DPP Chairman Prasetyo Hadi expressed the party's support for electing regional heads through local legislative councils (DPRD) as a bold step to reform the ongoing regional election (Pilkada) mechanism. The statement was made by Prasetyo at Lanud Halim Perdanakusuma, Jakarta.
Prasetyo, a former legislator in DPR RI's Commission II, has conducted in-depth studies on Indonesia's democratic processes, including Pilkada. He assesses the current system as having significant negative aspects, such as high political costs for candidates for regent, mayor, and governor. "As party officials and one of the party leaders, we believe we must be bold. We must be bold to make changes to the system when we find that the system we are running now has many negative sides," Prasetyo said.
Additionally, the state's costs for organizing Pilkada at city/regency to provincial levels are considerable. Prasetyo added that President Prabowo Subianto, as Gerindra's General Chairman, has discussed this proposal for a long time. "From our internal Gerindra party study, we are frank that one of those proposing or opining that we intend to return the regional head election system through the DPRD mechanism," he stated.
Previously, Gerindra's DPP General Secretary Sugiono also affirmed the party's position supporting the plan for electing regional heads via DPRD at all levels, from regents and mayors to governors. “Gerindra is in a position to support efforts or plans to implement this Pilkada by DPRD at the regent, mayor, or governor levels,” Sugiono wrote in a statement.
This proposal is seen as an alternative to reduce financial burdens and enhance efficiency in future regional head elections.
