Over the past two years, the idea of returning regional head elections (Pilkada) to an indirect system has resurfaced several times in Indonesia’s political debate. Supporters often defend the proposal on pragmatic grounds, arguing that direct elections are too expensive, divisive, and vulnerable to money politics. While these concerns may appear reasonable, reverting to indirect Pilkada within Indonesia’s current political landscape would only accelerate democratic backsliding. To subscribe please click here
