Political Dynamics and Challenges of Local Elections 2024 in Bulukumba Regency, Indonesia

Authors

  • Iqbal Noer Arfah Department of Government Studies, Universitas Muhammadiyah Makassar,
  • Junaedi Junaedi Department of Government Studies, Universitas Muhammadiyah Makassar
  • Nuryanti Mustari Master of Public Administration, Universitas Muhammadiyah Makassar

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.46507/jclp.v4i1.710

Keywords:

local election, democratic processes, party coalition

Abstract

This study analyzes political dynamics in Bulukumba Regency's 2024-2029 Simultaneous Regional Elections, examining candidate branding strategies, political party gatekeeping via B1-KWK recommendations (letter of mutual agreement), and comparative electoral patterns. A critical phenomenon emerged when party cadres were denied nominations by their own parties and defected to incumbent Andi Muhtar Ali Yusuf, revealing strategic loyalty fractures. Using a descriptive qualitative approach with in-depth interviews (N=25), direct observation, and document analysis, findings demonstrate: (1) incumbent dominance anchored by Muhtar’s branding as "Indonesia’s wealthiest regent" (LHKPN-reported assets: Rp 120 billion) and extensive patronage networks; (2) B1-KWK mechanisms enabling party fragmentation that nearly resulted in an uncontested election; and (3) intensified yet unequal competition after the last-minute registration of challengers Jamaluddin Samsir-Tomy Satria Yulianto (Golkar-NasDem-Hanura coalition). The research concludes that branding power, coalition engineering, and institutional gatekeeping converge to shape regional electoral outcomes, urging reforms to enhance political equity in Indonesia’s local democracies.

References

Akbar, M. F., Lingganingrum, L., Mareto, I., & Napitupulu, I. R. A. (2024). Educating Beginner Voters: Yogyakarta KPUD’s Role, Criticisms, and Recommendations in 2024 Election. Constitutionale, 5(1), 13–24. https://doi.org/10.25041/constitutionale.v5i1.3320

Amiruddin, A., & Ramadani, R. (2023). Judicial Activism in Regional Head Election Dispute: The Practice and Consistency of the Indonesian Constitutional Court. Substantive Justice International Journal of Law, 6(1), 56. https://doi.org/10.56087/substantivejustice.v6i1.230

Anderson, I., & Kuswanto, K. (2021). The Influence of Political Awareness, Political Socialization, and Mass Media on Political Participation in Jambi Province. Jurnal Studi Sosial Dan Politik, 5(2), 203–216. https://doi.org/10.19109/jssp.v5i2.8742

Candra, A., Fauzi, A., & Rahmadhani, M. L. (2023). Political Relations: Political Identity and Social Media in Elections in Indonesia. Kybernology Journal of Government Studies, 3(2), 111–128. https://doi.org/10.26618/kjgs.v3i2.13054

Dahliah, D. (2022). BAWASLU Budgeting Mechanism on the Election of Regional Chiefs: Case Study of South Sulawesi. Golden Ratio of Social Science and Education, 2(1), 1–11. https://doi.org/10.52970/grsse.v2i1.136

Freedman, L. (2014). The Problem with Strategy. In United Natgions Conversation Series. Oxford University Press. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0BeVKl4xnOw

Hall, P. A. (2020). The Electoral Politics of Growth Regimes. Perspectives on Politics, 18(1), 185–199. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1537592719001038

Harsyaf, N. F., & Khaerah, N. (2023). Understanding the Electoral Preferences of Beginner Voters in the 2020 Bulukumba Local Elections. JCLP, 2(2), 82–93. https://doi.org/10.46507/jclp.v2i2.473

Haryani, R. (2023). The Implementation of Simultaneous Local Elections: An Overview of Constitutional Law and Its Impact on Democracy in Indonesia. Sign Jurnal Hukum, 5(1), 102–113. https://doi.org/10.37276/sjh.v5i1.262

Hidayaturrahman, M., Sudarman, S., Hamhij, N. A., Sugiantiningsih, A. A. P., Ubaid, A. H., & Elazhari, E. (2022). Political Broker Giving Money and Intimidating in Regional Head Elections in Indonesia. Jurnal Studi Sosial Dan Politik, 6(2), 177–190. https://doi.org/10.19109/jssp.v6i2.10102

Kamil, I., & Indah, D. (2022). Political Communication Education for Beginner Voters in Convenient Regional Head Elections in 2024. Qalamuna Jurnal Pendidikan Sosial Dan Agama, 14(2), 855–868. https://doi.org/10.37680/qalamuna.v14i2.3767

Labolo, M., & Hamka, M. A. (2012). Reconsidering the indirect elections for the head of region, response towards the current direct democration mechanism system in Indonesia. Asian Social Science, 8(13), 1–8. https://doi.org/10.5539/ass.v8n13p1

Latifah, E. S., Wisnaeni, F., & Pinilih, S. A. G. (2023). Supervision of the Implementation of the 2020 Simultaneous Regional Head Elections by the Semarang City General Election Supervisory Body. International Journal of Multidisciplinary Research and Analysis, 06(11). https://doi.org/10.47191/ijmra/v6-i11-25

Leach, S., & Wilson, D. (2002). Rethinking local political leadership. Public Administration, 80(4), 665–689. https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-9299.00323

Luhukay, R. S. (2024). Jurnal Legalitas Revitalizing The Regeneration System Of Political Parties In Building Pancasila Democracy. 17(1). https://doi.org/10.33756/jelta.v17i1.24897

Mahyudin, M. A. A. (2024). The Declining Role of Islamic Politics and the Jokowi’s Factors in the 2024 Presidential Election: A Study of Contemporary Political Policies and Dynamics in Indonesia. Religion and Policy Journal, 2(1), 1–9. https://doi.org/10.15575/rpj.v2i1.746

Manuruki, F. A., Razak, A., Aspan, Z., & Rahayu, Y. (2023). Bawaslu’s Authority to Handle Violations of Neutrality of State Civil Apparatus in Regional Head Elections. Journal of Advanced Zoology, 44(5), 163–166. https://doi.org/10.17762/jaz.v44i5.2605

Prianto, A. L., & Yuslaini, N. (2024). How Local Democratic Backsliding? Single Candidate, Pragmatism and Uncompetitive Local Head Election in Indonesia. JWP (Jurnal Wacana Politik), 9(2), 177. https://doi.org/10.24198/jwp.v9i2.53451

Purwoko, B. (2005). Isu-Isu Strategis Pilkada Langsung; Ekspresi Kedaulatan Untuk Kesejahteraan Rakyat. Jurnal Ilmu Politik Dan Pembangunan, 6(2), 14.

Rizqiyati, C., & Setiawan, D. (2021). Political Budget Cycle on the Regional Elections in Indonesia. Jurnal Aset (Akuntansi Riset), 13(1), 85–98. https://doi.org/10.17509/jaset.v13i1.33879

Rohman, S., Napang, M., & Puspitasari, P. (2022). Degradation of democracy with the existence of a single candidate for regional head elections in Indonesia. Masyarakat, Kebudayaan Dan Politik, 35(2), 160–169. https://doi.org/10.20473/mkp.V35I22022.160-169

Sadiq, M. F., & Diamantina, A. (2024). Appointment of Members of the Indonesian National Army as Acting Regional Heads in the Face of Simultaneous Regional Elections in 2024. International Journal of Social Science and Human Research, 7(05). https://doi.org/10.47191/ijsshr/v7-i05-125

Sloam, J., & Henn, M. (2019). Rejuvenating Politics: Young Political Participation in a Changing World. In J. Sloam & M. Henn (Eds.), Youthquake 2017 (pp. 17–42). Springer International Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-97469-9_2

Subekti, D., Suswanta, S., & Zaenuri, M. (2021). The Performance of Election Organizers in the Implementation of the 2020 Regional Elections During The COVID-19 Pandemic. Journal of Governance, 6(2). https://doi.org/10.31506/jog.v6i2.11830

Syaidi, R., Hoesein, Z. A., & Redi, A. (2024). Resolution of Disputes Over The Regional Head Elections Post The Constitutional Court Decision Number 85/PUUXX/2022 Regarding The Implementation of Simultaneous Regional Elections in Indonesia. Eduvest - Journal of Universal Studies, 4(3), 1396–1412. https://doi.org/10.59188/eduvest.v4i3.1132

Todd, C., & Gawiser, S. (2012). How Barack Obama won: A state-by-state guide to the historic 2008 presidential election. Vintage.

Widiastuti, W., Firmansyah, M. A., Putra, D. E., & Martadireja, S. (2023). Silver Surfers vs Coffee Chats: A Dual Strategy to Engage Emak-Emak. Journal of Madani Society, 2(3), 166–175. https://doi.org/10.56225/jmsc.v2i3.233

Wulandari, M., Fariha, N. F., Bintara, C. S., & . M. (2024). Public Opinion Before the Event of the 2024 General Election. Jurnal Ilmiah LISKI (Lingkar Studi Komunikasi), 10(1). https://doi.org/10.25124/liski.v10i1.7261

Downloads

Published

2025-06-30

Issue

Vol. 4 No. 1 (2025): June 2025

Section

Articles

License

Copyright (c) 2025 Iqbal Noer Arfah, Junaedi Junaedi, Nuryanti Mustari

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Authors who publish in Journal of Contemporary Local Politics agree to the following terms:

  1. Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-SA 4.0) License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgment of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.
  2. Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgment of its initial publication in this journal.
  3. Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work (See The Effect of Open Access).