ANALYSIS OF POLITICAL COMMUNICATION, POLITICAL LEADERSHIP IN POLITICAL PARTIES, POLITICAL COSTS, GOVERNMENT SUPPORT FOR PUBLIC TRUST IN ACEH PROVINCE

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this research is to analyze the influence of political communication, political leadership within political parties, political costs, and government support on public trust in Aceh Province.   Theoretical framework: The urgency of analyzing political communication, political leadership within political parties, political costs, and government support for public trust in Aceh Province lies in the importance of understanding and enhancing the quality of the political process in the region. By deepening the understanding of these factors, efforts can be made to strengthen effective political communication, build quality political leadership, manage political costs effectively, and increase government support for political parties. This is expected to have a positive impact on public trust in political parties, strengthen democracy, and promote sustainable development in Aceh Province.   Design/methodology/approach: the study used an explanatory research method with a quantitative approach in Aceh province. It focused on variables such as political communication, leadership qualities within political parties, political costs, government support, public trust, and voting intention. The sample consisted of 278 respondents, selected using purposive sampling. Data was collected over four months using Google Forms. The objective was to analyze the influence of political communication, leadership qualities, political costs, and government support on public trust, as factors affecting voting intention. Data processing involved steps such as data inspection, coding, and tabulation using an index table. Descriptive analysis, specifically the Index Analysis technique, was used to depict respondents' perceptions.   Findings: This research reveals interesting insights into the perception and voting intention towards political parties in Aceh. Respondents showed high satisfaction and agreement with the variables of political communication, leadership qualities within political parties, political costs, and government support in the context of legislative and regional elections. Political communication was perceived as effective by the respondents, and the leadership qualities within political parties were also highly rated. While respondents expressed satisfaction with political costs in elections, there are concerns regarding the proportional relationship between high political costs and the perceived quality of political parties by the public. Government support for political parties was considered satisfactory as well. Public trust can be eroded by corruption, injustice, or government failure to meet public expectations. Therefore, it is important for political parties and the government to strengthen their relationship with the public through empowerment, openness, and responsiveness to public aspirations. The findings of this research provide valuable insights for political parties to improve their strategies. Effective political communication, charismatic leadership within political parties, efficient management of political costs, and strong government support are crucial factors in building trust and winning the hearts of voters.   Research, Practical & Social implications: The research findings reveal important insights into the perception and voting intention towards political parties in Aceh. The respondents expressed high satisfaction and agreement with variables such as political communication, leadership qualities within political parties, political costs, and government support in the context of elections. Effective political communication was identified as a crucial factor in building trust between political parties and voters, while the leadership qualities within political parties were highly valued by the respondents. Transparent management of campaign funds and strong government support were also considered important for maintaining public trust. These findings have practical implications for political parties to improve their strategies, including enhancing political communication, developing competent leaders, ensuring transparency in campaign finance, and fostering good relations with the government. Furthermore, the research highlights the social implications of trust in political institutions, emphasizing the need for transparency, accountability, and responsiveness to public aspirations to maintain public trust in the government and promote a healthy political system and democracy.   Originality/value: This research provides original insights into the perception and voting intention towards political parties in Aceh, highlighting high satisfaction with political communication, leadership qualities, political costs, and government support. However, concerns arise regarding the proportional relationship between high political costs and the perceived quality of political parties. It emphasizes the importance of strengthening the relationship between political parties, the government, and the public through empowerment, openness, and responsiveness to build trust. The findings offer valuable recommendations for political parties to improve their strategies, focusing on effective communication, charismatic leadership, efficient management of costs, and strong government support as crucial factors in winning the hearts of voters.