The political movements of young people in Indonesia are currently in the spotlight. Not only because the number of young people or community groups aged 17 to 35 years is large, but also because young people who have managed to sit in the DPR RI or become regional heads and deputy regional heads are young people with a background in political dynasties, political oligarchy, or have big capital finance. The presence of young people with such backgrounds makes the public still pessimistic about policies that favor marginal groups, are environmentally friendly, or reform party institutions. There are rarely reports that photograph young politicians who are active from the regions, pushing for party reforms in the regions.
The story from Golkar of Bedagai Regency
In Serdang Bedagai Regency, for example, the Secretary of the Golkar Party's Regional Leadership Council (DPD) Serdang Bedagai Regency, M Ziad Ananta said that the Golkar Party under the leadership of Airlangga Hartarto had tried to make internal party reforms after the arrest of the former Golkar General Chair, Setya Novanto. The improvements that Ananta meant were that regional deliberation was no longer allowed to use money politics and the abolition of registration fees to become candidates for regional heads, candidates for legislative members (candidates) for the Regional People's Representative Council (DPRD), and party DPD administrators.
“Then the regional head registration is free of charge. Registration for DPRD candidates is free of charge. Being a DPD is also absolutely free of charge," said Ananta at the discussion "Youth in Political Party Reform", Sunday (8/29).
In Serdang Bedagai Regency, youth-friendly party reforms were also initiated. Young people are recruited to become cadres through the Golkar Institute. Party wings were also revived, such as the Young Generation of the Golkar Party (AMPG), the Kosgoro Youth Front, the Student Work Forum, and the Indonesian Youth Reform Force (AMPI). Golkar Party DPD Serdang Bedagai also designed a secretariat such as a coffee shop to have a more youthful concept.
“In the regional deliberation, the committee is dominated by young people. 40 percent of our management in 2021 will also be filled by productive young people. Our secretariat has also been changed to a young concept. There is a coffee maker and cafe benches at the Secretariat,” said Ananta.
NasDem youth are active in local issues
Yoan Benediktus, NasDem Party cadres from Kupang have activism in environmental and food issues. Together with the Forum for the Environment (Walhi) of East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), Yoan is involved in environmental discussion programs, opening access to clean water, and food security.
“We have a local food security program, in NTT there is Moringa leaves. There is a program, the governor happens to be from the NasDem Party, we socialize it to the community to use Moringa leaves for community nutrition, "explained Yoan.
In the NasDem Party itself, said Yoan, the Party provides space for young people to be involved in the party's management structure. There are areas of youth, women and sports which are specially managed by young cadres.
Political study room from PSI Bandung City
Yoel Yosaphat, a member of the Bandung City DPRD from the Partai Solidaritas Indonesia [Indonesian Solidarity Party] (PSI) told of the party's programs aimed at embracing more young people to get involved in political activities. Not only is there a Directorate of Young Voters led by 22-year-old youths, PSI has also opened an internship program with placements at the PSI Secretariat in Bandung City and DPRD in Bandung City. It is hoped that through the internship program, young people can see how political decisions are made in meetings at the Bandung City DPRD. Young people's understanding of policy making is then expected to eliminate antipathy to the party.
“Because we have three representatives in the Bandung City DPRD, they (interns) participated in those meetings and saw how decisions were made in those meetings. So, they can study there. Hopefully, they can tell their friends that the party is not what they think and is not antipathy to the party," said Yoel.
What to fight for is to make youth politics more excited
There were two proposals submitted by young politicians at the discussion organized by the Association for Elections and Democracy (Perludem) and the International Republican Institute (IRI), namely the provision of a quota for youth in the legislature in the Election Law by 10 to 20 percent, and expanding decentralization of political parties. These two things are considered to provide significant flexibility for young politicians to appear as party leaders in the regions and in representative institutions.
“For example, the autonomy of regional parties in the nomination recommendations. Usually we wait for the decision of the DPP (Central Leadership Council). Each region has its own perspective, and knows their champions. This will provide more space for young people,” said Yoan.
Senior Partai Persatuan Pembangunan [United Development Party] (PPP) politician Lena Maryana Mukti supports the idea of a quota for young people on the candidate list. According to Lena, affirmation of 30 percent of youth on the candidate list is needed to provide space for young politicians without dynastic and oligarchic political backgrounds to sit in parliament. Although, there is no guarantee that the quota will not be filled by young politicians from political dynasties and oligarchic families.
“Although, there is no guarantee that the 30 percent quota for young people will not be filled by those from political dynasties and oligarchic backgrounds, but at least there is a guarantee for young friends to sit there (parliament)," concluded Lena.
Lena also suggested that young politicians from various parties form the Indonesian Young Politician Caucus (KPMI). As in the case of female politicians, KPMI can become a forum for sharing and support among young party politicians.
The Executive Director of Needdem, Khoirunnisa Nur Agustyati also said that to encourage the involvement of young people in political parties, the government can regulate in a Government Regulation (PP) so that the condition for allocation of funds from the state is only given to parties that use the allocation of state funds for the empowerment of young people and women. Things like this can be done even though there is no revision of the Election Law and Political Party Law.
“Things like this can be regulated in PP. The PP can regulate the conditions for the allocation of funds from the state, one of which imposes conditions for parties to empower young people and women," said Khoirunnisa.
Amul Hikmah Budiman, a young cadre of Partai Demokrasi Indonesia Perjuangan [Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle] (PDIP) invited young people to be actively involved in political parties. With so many young people joining the party, it will make it easier for the youth of the party to carry out party reforms from within.
“Politics is considered by many young people to be so rigid that there is a reluctance to get directly involved. So, let's get involved, don't be anti-politics. We are building a politics that is anti-money politics,” said Amul.
The discussion “Youth in Political Party Reform” is the first discussion in a series of discussions with the theme of Political Party Reformation. Ideas from young politicians from other parties will be presented in the next discussion.
