The “Political Dynasties” issue has become more apparent in the latest parliament membership.
The Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR-RI) composition for the 2024-2029 period reportedly comprises many members from relatives and family connections. Several experts have mentioned that this phenomenon further weakens the democratic process in Indonesia.
Political and Democracy Expert Arga Pribadi Imawa from the UGM Faculty of Social and Political Sciences (Fisipol UGM) stated that this political dynasty within the DPR could adversely affect future democratic processes.
“I believe this is one of the consequences of political party members originating from elites or individuals within the circle of power,” said Imawa on Monday (Oct. 14).
According to him, even major political parties are still dominated by people from the political sphere, not from the general public. Even strategic positions are easily obtained through family and kinship relations.
As a result, it is becoming increasingly difficult for individuals from ordinary backgrounds to participate in politics. The Forum Masyarakat Peduli Parlemen Indonesia (Formappi) noted that 79 out of 580 members of parliament have familial ties with other officials.
This number does not yet include deeper investigations into employment history, shared projects, or distant familial connections.
Imawa explained that at least three factors influence someone’s success in electoral contests: social capital, political capital, and economic capital.
Social capital refers to how one’s kinship network impacts one’s rise in popularity in society. For instance, someone already known as a public figure will naturally be more easily recognized and attract public votes, and the same applies to their family members and relatives.
Next is political capital, which is highly dependent on the needs of the sponsoring party. For example, someone with strong political influence is more likely to be promoted by their party.
“It’s about how parties promote individuals who can effectively mobilize the political machinery,” added Imawa.
The third factor, of course, is economic capital, primarily since the campaign process for legislative candidates is often associated with various ways of introducing themselves to the public.
“Naturally, this effort requires significant financial capital, not just from the individual but also from party support,” he explained.
Given the strong presence of political dynasties in the legislative sphere, Imawa believes that such conditions will continue and lead to exclusivity within the political realm.
While political dynasties have also occurred in major countries like the United States, they arose in the context of a functioning democracy.
However, in Indonesia, political dynasties undermine democracy and could increase collusion and nepotism.
In line with this, Imawa also explained how political dynasties could reduce representativeness in parliament.
“In terms of democracy, we can see the effects in several ways. Ultimately, this results from compromise, which naturally reduces representativeness, as they have stronger political contracts with their respective parties,” said Imawa.
Additionally, Imawa highlighted the constitutional aspect, noting that Law No. 7 of 2017 on General Elections does not prohibit legislative members from having relatives or family ties with other officials.
“Indeed, such regulations were applied in the context of regional elections in Article 7 of Law No. 8 of 2015, but political turbulence at that time derailed efforts to maintain that regulation,” he added.
Imawa believes that universities, as educational institutions, are expected to contribute to efforts to restore the dignity of national democracy.
This can be achieved through academic writing, discussions, and practical reviews.
“Thus, ideas from universities can help safeguard the integrity of our democracy while also significantly contributing to public awareness,” he concluded.
Author: Tasya
Editor: Gusti Grehenson
Photo: Antara