The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) regards the alleged corruption case of Lampung Tengah Regent Ardito Wijaya as reflecting weaknesses in political party cadre recruitment. The weak cadre system fuels political donations and high campaign costs in the 2024 regional elections. This burdens regional leaders to recoup funds through corruption.
The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) states that the alleged corruption case ensnaring Lampung Tengah Regent Ardito Wijaya highlights fundamental issues in Indonesian politics. During a press conference in Jakarta on Sunday (December 14, 2025), KPK Spokesperson Budi Prasetyo emphasized the weakness in integrating recruitment and cadre development within political parties.
"The root problem is the weak integration of recruitment with cadre development, which triggers political donations, high mobility of cadres between parties, and candidacy based solely on financial strength and popularity," Budi Prasetyo told journalists.
The case involves the alleged receipt of Rp5.25 billion used by Ardito Wijaya to repay a bank loan for his 2024 regional election campaign needs. According to KPK, this practice illustrates the high cost of politics in Indonesia. Consequently, elected regional heads face a heavy burden to recover political funds, often through unlawful means like corruption.
"This shows the still high political costs in Indonesia, resulting in elected regional heads having a great burden to return those political funds, and unfortunately done through unlawful ways, namely corruption," Budi added.
KPK highlights that the weak recruitment system not only fuels political donations but also high cadre mobility between parties and prioritization of finances over integrity. This statement comes amid the handling of the Ardito Wijaya case, though further investigation details have not been publicly disclosed.
