Indonesia president suggests scrapping regional elections to cut costs

13/12/2024 16:14

Indonesia's President Prabowo Subianto has suggested scrapping one of the country's two nationwide elections to cut costs, advocating a return to a model similar to that used during its three-decade era of authoritarian rule.



Indonesia, the world's third-largest democracy, currently votes for presidents and national and regional legislatures in one election and chooses mayors, governors and regents in another.



Prabowo late on Thursday suggested doing away with the second election and having regional legislatures choose mayors and governors instead, which he said would free up funds to spend on upgrades and meals for schools.



Prabowo's suggestion of having legislators choose local leaders is reminiscent of the "New Order" era of late strongman ruler Suharto, his former father-in-law, under whom he served as special forces commander. He was later dismissed from the military amid allegations of human rights abuses, which he has consistently denied.