Indonesia recently marked its first-ever simultaneous regional elections, resulting in significant victories for President Prabowo Subianto’s ruling coalition, the Advance Indonesia Coalition (KIM Plus). Local reports suggest more than 50 percent of winning candidates affiliated with KIM Plus, indicating strong backing for the president’s development objectives. Although the General Elections Commission (KPU) has yet to release the final tally from the polls conducted on November 27, preliminary results hint at the coalition’s dominance across many regions as they gear up to introduce local changes.
Among the notable victors is Dedi Mulyadi, who was elected as the governor of West Java. The incumbent governor of East Java, Khofifah Indar Parawansa, successfully retained her position, demonstrating the administration's strong foothold. Other key candidates include Ahmad Luthfi, previously the police chief and now the newly elected governor of Central Java, and Muhammad Bobby Afif Nasution, the son-in-law of former president Joko Widodo, who triumphed in the North Sumatra gubernatorial contest.
Nevertheless, it was not all smooth sailing for the ruling coalition. The most closely watched race, for the governorship of Jakarta, went to Pramono Anung, the former cabinet secretary representing the opposition Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P). Jakarta remains Indonesia's largest and most prominent city, making this loss noteworthy for KIM Plus.
Following their victories, the newly elected governors are set to be sworn in on February 7, 2025, with district heads and mayors taking their oaths just three days later. All elected officials will serve five-year terms, during which their performance will be closely monitored by constituents.
Lucius Karus, a senior researcher at Indonesian Parliament Watch, suggests President Prabowo’s recent successes at the national level have aided local candidates. With more time available for consolidation and preparation, KIM Plus candidates could present themselves as well-equipped leaders for change. Yet, as Ija Suntana, a state administrative law professor at Sunan Gunung Djati State Islamic University Bandung, notes, the challenge remains: “Voters would like to see newly elected officials deliver on their campaign promises.” Problems arising from past administrative failures might impede implementing their proposals effectively.
The elections saw participation from 18 political parties; nevertheless, most candidates rallied under KIM Plus or PDI-P banners. This outcome highlights the challenges faced by smaller parties to gain traction against the established political giants. With Indonesia’s dynamic political environment, there is bound to be scrutiny over how the winners will navigate the expectations set by their constituents.
Meanwhile, Mochammad Afifuddin, KPU’s chairman, indicated delays in announcing final results due to technical issues and security circumstances, particularly from the easternmost Papua region. Full results need to be established to understand the complete scope of these elections.
Looking at broader political dynamics, analysts remind us of the importance of focusing on district heads rather than solely provincial governors. Damianus Bilo, deputy director of the State Defense Academy, articulated this point: “Prabowo needs to focus more on elected district heads, not provincial governors, because the former are closer to people and are more influential in implementing development programs.” This resonates with the design of Indonesia’s political structure, where district heads bear direct accountability to local parliaments.
Indonesia, being the world’s fourth most populous nation, had about 200 million registered voters, with estimates indicating around 70 percent participated actively during these local elections held simultaneously across 548 regions. The large turnout reflects public interest and confidence, necessary ingredients for any democracy facing myriad challenges.
On the diplomatic front, President Prabowo Subianto has also been making significant strides internationally. Recently, he attended meetings of the D-8 Organization for Economic Cooperation, which includes major Muslim developing countries, showcasing Indonesia’s strategic role on the global stage. “Egypt is our close friend, our strategic partner and an important country in the Middle East,” Prabowo remarked before heading to Egypt for meetings with President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and local business leaders, displaying Indonesia’s commitment to fostering strong bilateral ties.
Prabowo’s presidency, which commenced this October, is seeking to uphold Indonesia’s long-standing foreign policy tradition of non-alignment, evidenced by his diplomatic engagements across more than 20 countries, including major powers such as the United States and China.
Moving forward, expectations are high for the newly elected officials to rise to the occasion and fulfill their campaign pledges. With public scrutiny ramping up and past failures looming large, there is both excitement and trepidation about the future of local governance within this dynamic and diverse archipelago.
