The Composition of the Central Java Provincial Legislative Council (DPRD): Who Dominates?

As the deadline for registration of gubernatorial and vice-gubernatorial candidates (cagub and cawagub) for the 2018 simultaneous Regional Head Elections (Pilkada) approaches, political dynamics in Central Java are intensifying. Several names, such as former Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Sudirman Said; former Minister of Villages, Development of Disadvantaged Regions, and Transmigration Marwan Ja'far; and Ganjar Pranowo, will compete for the Central Java-1 seat.

The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan or PDIP) can directly nominate gubernatorial and vice-gubernatorial candidates without having to form a coalition with other parties because it holds more than 20 seats in the Central Java Regional People's Representative Council (DPRD). In the 2014 Legislative Election, the PDIP obtained 31 out of 100 contested DPRD seats. The National Awakening Party (PKB) came in second with 13 seats, followed by Gerindra with 11 seats.

Ganjar Pranowo, the incumbent, is again nominated by the PDIP in the Central Java Pilkada. Meanwhile, Sudirman Said is nominated by Gerindra, which has formed a coalition with the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) and the National Mandate Party (PAN), and Marwan Ja'far is nominated by the PKB. A total of 17 provinces will hold simultaneous Pilkada in 2018.