Public Opposition to DPRD Pilkada Grows as Discourse Intensifies

Survey Reveals Strong Rejection of Indirect Regional Elections

A comprehensive survey conducted by Lingkaran Survei Indonesia (LSI) Denny JA in October 2025 has shown that a significant majority of Indonesians, 66.1% of respondents, reject the proposal to elect regional heads through the DPRD ²

. This finding highlights the strong public resistance against changing the current direct election system for regional heads. Senior researcher Ardian Sopa characterized this majority as not only substantial but also systemic, indicating deep-rooted public preference for direct elections ²

Source 2

https://nasional.kontan.co.id/news/hasil-survei-lsi-denny-ja-mayoritas-publik-menolak-pilkada-lewat-dprd

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Government Acknowledges Growing Discourse

Coordinating Minister for Legal, Human Rights, Immigration, and Penitentiary Affairs, Yusril Ihza Mahendra, has acknowledged that the discourse around indirect regional elections is gaining traction ¹

. While Yusril admitted that the idea is currently being discussed, he emphasized that he was not aware of the details of the proposal. This acknowledgment by a senior government official indicates that the wacana (discourse) has reached significant levels within governmental circles.

Implications of Survey Findings

The LSI Denny JA survey results demonstrate a clear public preference for maintaining the current direct election system for regional heads. With 28.6% supporting the change versus 66.1% opposing it, the data suggests that any shift to indirect elections through DPRD would face significant public resistance ²

. This opposition transcends mere numbers, representing a systemic rejection of altering the established electoral process.

Political Context and Future Prospects

The ongoing debate around the Pilkada method comes at a time when Indonesia is carefully examining its democratic processes. The strong public stance against changing the election method for regional heads indicates that any potential shift would require substantial public dialogue and consensus-building. As the discourse continues to evolve, the government will need to carefully consider the strong public preference for direct elections while weighing any proposed changes to the electoral system.