Reflections and Expectations of Democracy in The Implementation of Regional Autonomy: Long - Term Potential for Appointment of Acting Regional Heads

Abstract

Indonesia is a democratic country that implemented regional autonomy. The era of regional autonomy has been implemented since the Indonesian government issued Law no. 22 of 1999 concerning Regional Government and has continued to this day. Many dynamics have occurred as well as challenges and achievements for this autonomy, such as local governments being able to advance programs according to their regional characteristics, even increasing cases of corruption by regional heads, and many more. Article 201 Paragraph (9) of Law Number 10 of 2016 concerning the Second Amendment to Law Number 1 of 2015 concerning the Stipulation of Government Regulations in  Law Number 1 of 2014 Concerning the Election of Governors, Regents, and Mayors which has become Law Number 6 2020 concerning the Election of Governors, Regents and Mayors, mentioning that in commemoration of the deaths of the Governor and Deputy Governor, Regent, and Deputy Regent, as well as Mayor and Deputy Mayor whose term of office ends in 2022 and whose term ends in 2023, acting Governor, acting Regent, and acting Mayor is appointed until the election of the Governor and Deputy Governors, Regents, and Deputy Regents, as well as Mayors and Deputy Mayors through simultaneous national elections in 2024. Therefore, currently, many regional heads positions in Indonesia are welcomed by Regional Heads in Charge who is appointed by the Central Government by statutory provisions. This has become a polemic and the authors find that the implementation of regional autonomy has so far been suboptimal so the central government needs to further regulate the provisions for the placement of the intended Regional Heads in Charge to achieve an ideal of democracy.