Deliberative Political Ethics and the Elimination of Oligarchic Practices in Regional Political Elections (Pilkada)

Abstract

Pilkada is one of the main indicators of local democratisation, which is a space for contestation of values, ideas and political policy discourse that will determine the direction of regional development in the future. The problem is that this contestation is often distorted by practices such as money politics, the presence of local strong groups, capital owners and kinship relations that form a network of oligarchic power relations resulting in the dominance of elitist discourse, as if representing the public interest. These conditions then create regional development that is not accommodating, discriminatory and even corrupt. It is important, then, to place a deliberative political atmosphere in the context of regional elections, especially during the political campaign period.                                       Deliberation is based on a political decision-making process that involves rational, inclusive and open public participation. In electoral political contestation, this relates to how political actors and the public at large discuss and make decisions collectively in the electoral process, emphasising moral principles and democratic values through equal and open political practices such as rational, inclusive and transparent discussions. Through deliberative political campaigns, the public sphere becomes the main instrument in articulating ideas and political legitimacy, submitting criticisms and expectations in accordance with the realities of life and being actively involved in every regional development agenda