Elected DPD Members 2024 Are Dominated by New Faces

In the 2024 elections, there will be an increase in the number of senators who will enter Senayan along with the addition of four provinces resulting from the expansion of Papua.

Since 2022, the number of provinces in Indonesia has increased to 38 provinces. Each province sends four representatives who are deemed capable of voicing their region's aspirations at the national level. Senators, who have been directly elected by the people since 2004, now number 152.

Out of 136 senators whose term is about to end, 105 of them from all provinces are competing for votes to regain their seats in parliament.

Based on Kompas's R&D simulation and analysis, only 63.8 percent or 67 of the incumbent senators are predicted to succeed in retaining their seats in parliament.

If examined closely, there are 14 provinces where all incumbent senators are running for reelection in the 2024 election. These 14 provinces are North Sumatra, Jambi, South Sumatra, Lampung, Bangka Belitung Islands, Riau Islands, Central Java, Banten, West Nusa Tenggara, East Nusa Tenggara, South Kalimantan, North Sulawesi, Southeast Sulawesi, and West Papua.

Meanwhile, in two provinces, Bali and Papua, there is only one incumbent senator each who is running for re-election. In other provinces, there are two or three incumbents who are also running for the next term.

Also read: Highest Comments and Record for Votes in DPD Elections of All Time

New face

With the re-election of 67 incumbents in this year's election, it means that there are 85 senators or 55.9 percent of the total members of the DPD who are new faces serving in Senayan later. There will be a refreshment in the sessions of the high council institutions in the legislative body with the presence of new faces.

A new face of senators emerges in all provinces except for Lampung. This is what makes the DPD election this time interesting. Lampung is the only province where all four incumbent senators who run for office have been re-elected. They only switch places based on the most votes obtained.

The four senators from Lampung were elected based on consecutive votes: Jihan Nurlela, Ahmad Bastian, Abdul Hakim, and Bustami Zainudin. In the previous period, the order based on the highest votes was Jihan Nurlela, Abdul Hakim, Ahmad Bastian, and Bustami Zainudin.

Outside of the newly-formed province in Papua, a rejuvenation or a complete replacement of senators from a single province, meaning that no incumbents were re-elected, is taking place in four provinces. These four provinces are Riau, West Java, Central Sulawesi, and Papua.

From Riau, the four newly elected senators are Arif Eka Saputra, Muhammad Mursyid, Sewitri, and Abdul Hamid. The two incumbents who ran for re-election received fewer votes than the four new senators.

In West Java, two incumbent candidates who ran again also received votes below the top four. The new faces of senators in West Java are filled by Alfiansyah Komeng, Aanya Rina Casmayanti, Jihan Fahira, and Agita Nurfianti.

In Central Sulawesi, four new senators have managed to defeat three incumbents who were also vying for the people's vote. The four new senators are Febriyanthi Hongkiriwang, Abcandra Muhammad Akbar Supratman, Rafiq Al-Amri, and Andhika Mayrizal Amir.

Next, Papua also elected new faces as senators, namely Carel Simon Petrus Suebu, David Harold Waromi, Regina Muabuay, and Lalita. As for Senator Yorrys Raweyai, who previously represented the Province of Papua, he ran for re-election in the newly-formed province of Central Papua and was elected in that region.

Just like Yorrys Raweyai, the incumbent from West Papua, Mamberob Y Rumakiek, ran again as a candidate from a new province, namely South West Papua. He was also re-elected there.

The refreshment of DPD members can also be seen from the composition based on gender. The number of women elected as senators has increased. If in the period of 2019-2024 the number of women senators was 40 or 29.4 percent of the total, for the upcoming period the number has become 55 or 36.2 percent.

South Sumatra is the only province that sends all female senators, as in the previous period. They are Ratu Tenny Leriva, Jialyka Maharani, Amaliah, and Eva Susanti. The latter three names are incumbents.

Also read: Winners of the 2024 East Java DPD Election, from Ahmad Nawardi to Kondang Kusumaning Ayu

New Hope

A refresher with a dominance of new faces in the Regional Representative Council (DPD) gives a new hope regarding the role of senators in accommodating the aspirations of the regions and performing their function as regional representatives in the center.

Similar to the DPR institution, DPD also has legislative, supervisory, and budgeting functions that focus on issues of regional autonomy, the relationship between the center and regions, as well as the formation, expansion, and merger of regions.

In addition, related to the management of natural resources and other economic resources as well as matters related to the balance of central and regional finances.

In addition to bringing regional aspirations to the national stage, the role of a senator in their home province is also equally important. Senators also have the task of monitoring and evaluating local regulation drafts (raperda) and local regulations (perda).

As a bridge between the center and regions, the true role of senators can be to promote more even development and improve the welfare of the people. It is not always necessary to focus solely on the expansion of regions or new autonomous areas, which face the constraints of limited government funding.

However, how can the Regional Legislative Council position itself as a partner of the regional government in exploring the potential, innovation, and creativity of the region for more advanced and prosperous development.

The people are certainly looking forward to the successful work of the new senators and the changes they will bring. Welcome to Senayan, senators! (COMPAS R&D)

Also read: Bali DPD Competition, the Emergence of a New Format and the Remaining Figure of Arya Wedakarna