Election is one of the ways to make leadership circulation running well. Otherwise, the government would potentially entering authoritarian government which tends to be corrupt. Election needs to be conducted in a democratic country, both at the national level (presidential election) as well as at the local level (regional election).

The House of Representatives (DPR) and the Government have finished discussing the revision of Law No. 17 of 2014 on the People’s Consultative Assembly (MPR), House of Representatives (DPR), Regional House of Representatives (DPRD) and the Regional Representatives Council (DPD), commonly known as the MD3 Law. However, the revision of the Law, passed on 12 February 2018, has introduced several new materials that result in a strong reaction from the public.

The plan of the House of Representatives (DPR) to pass the Criminal Code Bill (RKUHP) into a Law has created a polemic and resulted in vocal rejection by many. The existing substance of the Criminal Code Bill is considered as dangerous towards democracy, human rights enforcement and eradication of corruption in Indonesia.

Law No. 6 of 2014 on the Village obliges the central government to allocate the Village Funds from the national budget for the improvement of public services, community empowerment and rural development.

On 8 February 2018, the Constitutional Court pronounced its ruling on the request for judicial review submitted by KPK employees, in question of the validity of the House of Representatives’ invocation of its inquiry rights pertaining to the KPK (Corruption Eradication Commission), herein after ‘KPK Inquiry’. With Decision No. 36/PUU-XV/2017, the Constitutional Court declared that the KPK Inquiry is valid. The Court rejected the argument of the plaintiff that the KPK Inquiry was in violation of Article 79 paragraph (3) of Law No. 17 of 2014 on the MPR, DPR, DPD and DPRD (MD3 Law).

One of the specters haunting the conduct of “Feasts of Democracy” i.e. the political elections of Indonesia, both national and regional, is the practice of money politics. The terminology refers to the practice of buying votes by election participants as well as by supporters, whether official or not, usually conducted before a vote is held. Due to money politics, voters lose their autonomy to elect candidates for public officials through rational considerations, such as track records, performance, programs or campaign promises, and choose candidates merely for pecuniary gains.

The House of Representatives (DPR) has appointed Bambang Soesatyo as the Chair of the House of Representatives on Monday (15/01), replacing Setya Novanto who was named a suspect in the e-KTP corruption case and is currently facing trial. Before the inauguration, Bambang Soesatyo said that he would have two main duties as the Chair.

Former president SBY was mentioned in the testimony of Mirwan Amir in the trial of the e-KTP corruption case, with Setya Novanto in the dock, Thursday (25/1). The former Democratic Party politician claimed to have suggested to SBY to stop the project.

The General Election Commission (KPU) requires candidates to submit the State Officials' Asset Report (LHKPN). Unfortunately, there is no sanctioning mechanism for candidates whose reports of assets are dishonest.

Thursday, January 11, 2018, is exactly nine months after the attack against Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) investigator Novel Baswedan. In the period, there has been no clear information on the result of investigation conducted by the Police of the Republic of Indonesia. Since the incident occurred, the Police has not indeed remained silent; several steps having been taken as described by Tempo.