Politics · Indonesia · 14 hrs ago
Jusuf Kalla says popularity and money can outweigh leadership in Indonesian elections
Former Indonesian vice president Jusuf Kalla criticized how elections reward popularity and money during a lecture at Northern Illinois University in DeKalb, Illinois.
He said candidates’ public profiles and financial means can matter more than their experience, competence and leadership.
Kalla linked this concern to Indonesia’s shift after reform from power concentrated in Jakarta to greater authority for regional governments.
That change was intended to let local governments make decisions, develop local strengths and respond to people’s needs.
He said open political competition has not always produced candidates with the ability to govern, and that economic hardship can leave some voters vulnerable to vote-buying.
The issue matters because elections should produce capable and trustworthy leaders, not only give people the chance to vote.
Kalla is scheduled to give another lecture at the university on October 15 about changes in Indonesian politics and what is driving them.
Jusuf Kalla said popularity and financial resources can outweigh competence and leadership quality in Indonesian elections.
He made the remarks during a public lecture at Northern Illinois University in DeKalb, Illinois, on 13 October 2026.
Kalla said post-reform political competition has widened but is not always matched by candidates’ experience and capacity.
He also said some voters may be vulnerable to money politics amid educational and economic pressures.
Kalla argued that democracy should produce leaders with the ability and integrity to govern.
- Who
- Jusuf Kalla, Indonesia’s 10th and 12th vice president.
- What
- He criticized Indonesian elections for allowing popularity and financial resources to outweigh competence and leadership quality.
- When
- 13 October 2026.
- Where
- Northern Illinois University in DeKalb, Illinois, United States.
- Why
- He said wider political competition has not always been matched by candidates’ experience and capacity, while some voters are vulnerable to money politics.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Kalla said Indonesia was highly centralized, with most major decisions made in Jakarta.
Regional autonomy gave local governments wider authority.
Kalla delivered a public lecture on regional autonomy and democracy at Northern Illinois University.
Kalla was scheduled to give another lecture at the university on changes in Indonesian politics.
- Speaker
- Jusuf Kalla
- Lecture venue
- Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, Illinois
- Lecture date
- 13 October 2026
- Audience
- 65 master’s students from various countries
- Lecture title
- Power Closer to the People: The Impact and Consequences of Regional Autonomy in Indonesia
2 sources
What people are saying
Demokrasi liberal pasca-reformasi membuka kompetisi politik, tetapi tidak selalu diimbangi pengalaman dan kapasitas yang memadai. Dalam proses pemilihan, popularitas dan kemampuan finansial cenderung lebih menentukan dibandingkan kompetensi dan kualitas kepemimpinan. Akibatnya, kandidat yang paling agresif mempromosikan diri atau membagikan uang berpotensi meraih keuntungan elektoral.