The Collapse of Political Comfort: Split Elections and the Rise of Gerakan Mandiri
By the Editorial Team of Gerakan Mandiri
The Constitutional Court’s decision to separate national and regional elections isn’t just a technical change to the electoral calendar. It’s a clear sign that old political comfort is beginning to crumble. The centralized, top-down system that has long dominated our politics is being questioned. And in that opening, Gerakan Mandiri finds hope.
For the past two decades, our political system has run like a machine controlled from the center. Political parties have been pulled into a pragmatic race for power. Legislative candidates are pushed to compete nationwide at once, often without truly knowing the regions they represent. Citizens are treated as numbers—not as rightful owners of their votes.
The five-box simultaneous elections of 2019 and 2024 exposed many flaws. Election workers were exhausted, voters confused, and local issues drowned out by presidential noise. Many local candidates weren’t chosen for their integrity or vision—but for instant popularity and financial clout. We’ve all seen it. We’re all tired of it.
The Court’s ruling offers something new: a chance to rebuild politics that is more local, more participatory, and more independent. When regional elections aren’t overshadowed by national interests, people have a better chance of choosing leaders they know and trust. This is how we revive democracy from the ground up.
For us at Gerakan Mandiri, this is a calling. From the start, we’ve believed that real change doesn’t come from elite spaces—it grows from conscious, empowered people who have room to speak out. No matter how controversial this ruling is among central political figures, it’s a chance to return politics to the people.
We know this isn’t a magic fix. There’s a long road ahead. Laws need to be revised. The transition period must be carefully managed to prevent abuse. But one thing is clear: a new doorway has opened.
Now it’s time to get ready. Civil society, grassroots communities, new parties—everyone who believes in building Indonesia from the margins must step into this space. Not just with criticism, but with real work: preparing local leaders, strengthening citizen political education, and guarding democracy from being hijacked by money and power.
We don’t see this Constitutional Court decision as the end of debate. In fact, it’s the start of a new chapter. A chapter where ordinary people have a greater role in shaping our direction. Where politics is no longer just a struggle for power—but a space to build a shared future.
Gerakan Mandiri is here to walk this path. Together with anyone who believes Indonesia can only be built when the people are trusted—and every region is given the power to choose its own way.
Editorial Team, Gerakan Mandiri
💬 “Change doesn’t come from above. It grows from the ground we stand on.”
