Indramayu’s Simultaneous Village Head Election: Is Indramayu Deputy Regent Saefudin Waiting for the Wind to Fall?
Author: H. Dudung Badrun, SH. MH. (Advocate & Journalist)
The government has yet to issue the Government Implementing Regulation for Law Number 3 of 2024 concerning the Second Amendment to Law Number 6 of 2014 concerning Villages.
However, the Regent of Indramayu, Luki Hakim, forced the implementation of the simultaneous Pilwu (village head elections) in Indramayu by issuing Indramayu Regent Regulation No. 47 of 2025 dated September 22, 2025, which was amended by Indramayu Regent Regulation No. 47 of 2025 dated November 14, 2025, concerning Amendments to Regent Regulation No. 30 of 2025 concerning the Simultaneous Village Head Elections in 2025.
The problems that would arise, which Indramayu Regent Luki Hakim did not consider, were:
First, the simultaneous Pilwu in Indramayu is regulated by Indramayu Regent Regulation No. 30 of 2025, which was amended by Indramayu Regent Regulation No. 47 of 2025, which is legally flawed because the autonomous region of Indramayu Regency is solely based on Government Regulation No. 43 of 2014 in conjunction with Home Affairs Minister Regulation No. 112 of 2014 in conjunction with Indramayu Regional Regulation No. 1 of 2025. 2023, which was the implementing regulation of Law Number 6 of 2014 before it was amended by Law Number 3 of 2023 concerning the second amendment to Law Number 6 of 2014 concerning Villages.
Second, Indramayu Regent Regulation Number 30 of 2025, which was amended by Regent Regulation Number 47 of 2025, does not provide space for upholding democracy based on law. Instead, it paves the way for anomalies and abuses, such as arbitrary interpretations by village and district-level Pilwu Committees in determining village head candidates with more than five applicants. There is no room for objections to the Committee’s arbitrary decisions.
Third, the 2025 simultaneous Indramayu village head elections (Pilkada) provide opportunities and perpetuate widespread democratic anomalies and anarchy because democratic norms, including candidate selection, voter determination, the Anye camp process, voting, voter result determination, election determination, and dispute resolution, are not given clear and fair space.
The potential for widespread childism and unrest will emerge. If this occurs, the beneficiaries will be clear, said Indramayu Deputy Regent Saefudin.**
Indramayu, November 28, 2025
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