The Role of Aceh Local Parties in The 2024 General Election in Realizing Democratization

Regional head elections are political contests involving multiple pairs of candidates, and the winner of this election is determined by the majority of vote casted to them. Aceh is the only province in Indonesia that allows its citizens to form their own political parties. This study examines the role of local parties in Aceh in the 2024 general election in realizing democratization from a democratic perspective. Such a research is classified as normative juridical Law Research, which is research that uses intermediary legal materials in a broad sense, with an approach to laws, theories, concepts, and cases. The results of this research showed that Aceh local parties played some role in the 2024 General Election in realizing democratization, with 6 local parties planning to participate in the simultaneous elections/elections in 2024. Especially in Aceh, this proved that the juridical aspects of legislation governing local parties were still implemented and that the democratic values of popular sovereignty were still upheld. Nevertheless, their role, existence and accountability were currently declining, giving the national parties greater popularity and demand to the Acehnese community. This was because these local parties no longer had central figures who were able to develop democracy in Aceh.


INTRODUCTION
Regional head elections are political contests involving multiple pairs of candidates, and the winner of the regional election is determined by the majority of votes casted to them. In local elections in Indonesia based on Law No. 32 Year 2004, election participants are pairs of candidates nominated by political parties or political party associations. This provision is amended by Law No. 12 Year 2008, which stipulates that election participants can also come from pairs of individual candidates who are supported by many people. This law is a follow-up of the decision of the Constitutional Court (MK) which abolished several provisions of Law No. 32 Year 2004 on election participants. Especially in Aceh, local parties can also nominate election participants. 1 A democratic government requires a culture where democracy can be realized (exist and upright). The culture of democracy is in the society itself. A good government can grow and be stable if people generally have a positive and proactive attitude towards the basic norms of democracy. Therefore, there must be a broad belief in society that democracy is the best system of governance compared to other systems for that society and they must make democracy as a way of life that guides the life of society, nation, and state. 2 The presence of political parties is expected to provide political education for the wider community, especially the Acehnese people, in order to become citizens who are aware of the rights and obligations in the life of the nation and state. They are also expected to absorb, collect, and channel the aspirations of the people in formulating and setting state policies. Ideally, political parties should serve to activate and mobilize the people, represent certain interests, provide a way of compromise for competing opinions, and provide a means of legitimate and peaceful leadership succession. Thus, the function of political parties towards the state is to create effective government and political participation towards the ruling government. For the people, the political parties serve to, among others, fight for the interests, aspirations, and values of the community and provide protection and security. 3 In the upcoming 2024 regional election, six local political parties, registered with KIP (Independent Election Commission), will participate; they are Aceh Party (PA), Prosperous Justice Party (PAS), Atjeh Beusaboh Thaat and Taqwa Generation Party (GABHTHAT), Darul Aceh Party (PDA), Aceh Nangro Party (PNA) and Aceh People's Independent Solidarity Party. In addition to local parties, some national parties are set to be election participants, namely: Indonesian Democratic Party of struggle (PDI-P); Prosperous Justice Party (PKS); Indonesian Unity Party (Perindo); NasDem Party; Crescent Star Party (PBB); Nusantara Awakening Party (PKN); Change Indonesia Guardian (Garuda) Party; Democratic Party (PD);Indonesian People's Wave (Gelora) Party; People's Conscience (Hanura) Party; Great Indonesia Movement (Gerindra) Party; National Awakening Party (PKB); Indonesian Solidarity Party (PSI); National Mandate Party (PAN); Functional Groups (Golkar) Party; United Development Party (PPP); and Labour Party.
A researcher specializing in political issues from the Initiative Survey Network, Aryos Nivada, in Banda Aceh states that the existence of local political parties makes the election in Aceh always interesting to study. So far, the largest local political party, PA, is considered to still have the power to control the parliament. However, there is a possibility that the votes casted to  -kanwil/berita-utama/jelangpemilu-2024-kemenkumham-aceh-dorong-partai-politik-untuk-optimalkan-berikan-pendidikan-politik-untukmasyarakat. them decrease because of the increasingly stronger national political parties. In fact, he predicts that only 3 local political parties will qualify, i.e., PA, PDA, and PNA. The three other local political parties, he adds, will be difficult to meet the threshold. 4 It is predicted that local parties' existence are highly likely at stake in 2024. The main reason is that they cannot be separated from finances and even have a dependence on bohir (sponsors). Using the leadership approach, the fact that Acehnese elite have not yet matured politically makes local parties currently have no longer central figures who can cultivate democracy in Aceh to make them remain dear to the community. Although local parties are welcomed by politicians, what needs to be noted is that sacred decisions in the nation's politics are to be made this year and it is time for local parties to participate in deciding the nation's politics, especially Aceh. One of the reasons for this is because the election is not simultaneous, yet next year they will be forced to be organized simultaneously. In analyzing local political policies in Aceh, it is of utmost importance to examine and read the situation as well as compare the security of the Acehnese people. 5 The author has first conducted a literature survey, literature review of the results of previous research to allow the research to be conducted to have scientific significance and to be accounted for its authenticity. This literature review serves to provide information on studies related to the research to be conducted by the author. This aims to avoid repetition in previous studies.
Some previous studies investigating elections in Aceh have been conducted. This study discusses how the loyalty of Aceh's local party members realize the democratic elections. It differs from the research I did, since it was related to the role of Aceh's local parties in the elections in Aceh in realizing democratization. The similarity is that both discuss the role of local parties in Aceh.
The second study was by Benni Erick and Budi Handoyo entitled "The Role of political parties in West Aceh in realizing Democratic politics in accordance with the Indonesian Constitutional System (study of the West Aceh party Regional Leadership Council". This study finds that local political parties in West Aceh have the function and role of gathering and channeling the political aspirations of the community, as well as increasing the political participation of the community in West Aceh. Moreover, the role of local parties in Aceh themselves, especially in West Aceh, has been played as per the Indonesian Constitutional system. However, in its development, the community has not been able to benefit from the existence of local political parties because those elected to be the party representatives in the government do not play the role as they should. 7 The similarity of this study with the research the authors did is that both discuss the role of Aceh's local parties in realizing democratization. They differ in their focus of discussion. The focus of this study is the role of local parties in West Aceh and a case study of the West Aceh party Regional Leadership Council, while the focus of the author's study was the role of Aceh's local parties in realizing democratization in the 2024 election and it discussed the perspective of democracy.
The third study was conducted by Cakra Abas, entitled "Axiology of Constitutional Court for Democracy in Aceh". This study suggests that starting from the implementation of the regional elections in Aceh in 2006, the next stage is the judicial review of Law No. 1 as a collective sense of urgency of individual candidates emerged in the community. The decisions related to Law No. 32 Year 2004 on Local Government, which led to the Decision of the Constitutional Court No. 5/ PUU-V/2007, basically recognizes individual candidates as one of the participants in the national election. 8 This research is nearly similar as the research I did where both discuss the democracy in Aceh as an autonomous region. The difference in this study is that it focuses on the role of the Constitutional Court in realizing democracy in Aceh, while my study focused on how the local parties play their roles in the implementation of elections in Aceh to realize democratization.
The next study is conducted by Rahmah Harianti, Nursyirwan Efenndi and Asrinaldi entitled "Application of the principle of independence and Ethics in Aceh election organizers in the 2019 election." From the results of this study, it can be concluded that KIP Aceh as the one responsible for of national and regional elections in Aceh province and holding the control in the organizational structure of election organizers in Aceh province, by applying these two principles, is able to implement democracy in Aceh elections. However, its attempt is considered less optimal because it receives a strong reprimand from the Honorary Board of Election Organizers (DKPP). However, the remaining Acehnese KIPs have fulfilled their duties and responsibilities in accordance with the principles and objectives of the election itself. 9 The similarity of this study with my research is that both discuss the election in Aceh. The difference lies in their focus of the discussion where this study focus its discussion on the principle of independence and ethics for election organizers in Aceh in the 2019 election organizers and my research focused its discussion on how the local parties played their role in organizing elections in Aceh in order to realize democratization.
The next study takes a form of a thesis by Asda Rasida entitled "Aceh Local Political Parties and the Constitutional System of the Republic of Indonesia". The study results show that Aceh local political parties in the constitutional system of the Republic of Indonesia holds a position that is not contrary to the legislation. This is reinforced by Article 18b of the 1945 Constitution which is the basis for the formation of local political parties in Aceh and also applies the principle in law, namely Lex Specialis Derogate Lex General, which means that special laws can override general laws. This is applicable to Aceh where special laws are implemented. 10 This study focuses on discussing the position of Aceh's local parties in the constitutional system of the Republic of Indonesia. Its similarity with the research I did is that both discuss Aceh's local parties. Again, it is different from my research in its focus on the role played by Aceh's local parties in participating in the elections to realize a democratization in Aceh. Based on the background of these problems, the author was interested in researching more directly the role of the Aceh local parties in realizing democratization in the 2024 election as viewed from democracy perspective, by examining whether in the 2024 election these local parties played a role in realizing democratization in Aceh or not. What efforts were made by the Aceh government in realizing a thorough, honest and just election.

RESEARCH METHODS
The research was normative juridical law research, i.e., the one that used intermediary legal materials in a broad sense, commonly referred to as library research. 11 Library study also meant collecting data by reviewing books, literature, notes, and various reports related to the problem to be solved. By its nature, this research was descriptive analytical one which constituted a method of examining an object that aims to make a description and elaboration in a systematic and objective manner about legal facts, properties, characteristics and relationships between existing elements and certain phenomena. 12 This study used a qualitative approach because the source of data and research results in library research took the form of descriptions of words. Based on these laws, Zaeni Asyhadie suggests that one of the special legal principles that can be used in legislation is Lex specialis derogat legi generali, meaning that special regulations override the general ones. In this case, the law on Aceh government has a Lex specialis on the election law, because the Law on Aceh government only regulates the scope of Aceh. This is different from the Law on election which is applicable to the entire region in Indonesia. In his book, Bagir Manan also explains the order of provisions of legislation which contains a number of principles, namely: any legislation of higher order can be a reference or legal basis for the provisions of legislation below or lower than it. In regard to this principle, Article 76 of UUPA explains that: regulation on the implementation of Elections in Aceh shall be specified in Aceh Qanun which is based on the provisions of the law. 13 Although Aceh as a special autonomous province has UUPA (Lex specialis), but as long as it is not specifically regulated in the law, especially regarding the rules on election, then the provision shall refer to the "generalist" and nationally applicable electoral law. This is as stated in Article 199 of Law No. 1 Year 2015 as amended by Law No. 10 Year 2016 which reads "the provisions in this law shall also apply to the organization of elections in Aceh province, special Capital Region of Jakarta, Special Region of Yogyakarta, Papua, and West Papua". 14 In regard to the electoral rules in Aceh, there are several relevant regulations, among others:

The Role of Aceh Local Parties to Realize Democratization
Democracy in Indonesia, especially Aceh region, is realized from the existence of local political parties. Local political parties have become the main instrument of the people to be competent based on the control of political institutions that can exert a strong influence over public policies.
Democracy also has to do with peace. This is because, in a democratic environment, civil society develops relationships with different communities. This relationship inevitably leads to possible conflicts. While not every conflict is violent, violent conflicts can be prevented when tensions can be regulated and resolved through peaceful ways. Local political parties are considered better in their ability to pay attention and fight for the interests of the Acehnese people. It is possible that a political party just wants to be a local political party because that is what it is capable of. The local political party is more interested in political issues at the local level. This makes it only interested in nominating candidates in regional elections (maybe even only in one province). The concept of a local political party will be able to accommodate such aspirations. 15 A local political party (state party, regional party or local political party) is a party whose network is limited to a region (province or state) or several regions, but does not include all (national) provinces. Different from political parties in general, local political parties have different goals depending on their characteristics and types. In political practice in countries that recognize the existence of local political parties, these types of parties have different goals, which are generally categorized into three: 1) local political parties that protect and promote the economic, social, cultural, linguistic and educational rights of certain minority groups; 2) a local political party that wants autonomy for its area or enforces and enhances the autonomy rights that the area already has; and 3) a local political party that explicitly fights for the independence of their territory and forms a new state. 16 The existence of local parties is politically advantageous. They can benefit their local community through local parties. Those who want more attention from the central government have opportunities through these local parties. Nevertheless, national parties differ from local parties in terms of their cadre. In addition, the dynamics between local parties and national parties lie in the order of party ideology. National parties have a structured cadre program while their local counterparts do not. This is because the former is still new. The technical arrangement of local parties is generally the same as that of national parties. Yet, in terms of candidacy, local parties have some privileges. Local parties are allowed to propose 120% quota compared to 20% of national parties as regulated in Law on Aceh and Qonun Privileges. In 2014, both local and national parties had the same quota of 120%. 17 In the negotiations in Helsinki, the special status of Aceh province was emphasized by having such privileges as regional symbols, hymns, determination of borders, Sharia justice system, determination of Bank interest rates themselves, direct investment and division and management of natural resources assets by 70% for the province of Aceh and 30% for the Government of the 15 (2) are established by a notarial deed containing the articles of association and bylaws, as well as its organizational structure. The local political party's organization shall have a domicile in Aceh's capital city. 4. The organization of local political parties as referred to in paragraph (4) shall take into account at least 30% (thirty percent) representation of women. 5. Local political parties have names, emblems, and image marks that do not have similarities in essence or in whole with the names, symbols, and image marks of national political parties or other local political parties. 6. Local political parties have a permanent office to be registered and legalized as a legal entity. In addition to meeting the requirements as referred to in Paragraphs (2), (3), (4), (5), (6), and (7), local political parties must have a management of at least 50% (fifty percent) in the District/City and 25% (twenty-five percent) of the number of districts in each district/city concerned.
Due to the promulgation of Law No. 11 Year 2006 concerning Government of Aceh, many differences are found in the implementation of general and regional elections in Aceh, and one of the most striking and dominant laws is related to the recruitment of election organizers. In Article 23 (1) point l and Article 24 (1) point i, the election organizers in Aceh are nominated by members of the legislature. Another article on the recruitment of election organizers is contained in Article 56 (4) and (5) which states that members of the KIP (Aceh Independent Election Commission) are nominated by Aceh House of Representatives (DPRA), and are determined by the KPU and inaugurated by the Governor.
Members of KIP at Regency/City level are nominated by the Regional Representative Council of the Regency/City (DPRK) who are then appointed by KPU and sworn in by the Regent/Mayor. In addition, Article 56 (6) provides that, in the process of implementing the provisions of paragraphs (4) and (5), the DPRK/DPRK establishes an independent ad hoc group to review candidates for membership in KIP. While in other regions of Indonesia, election organizers are elected through various stages of the election by an independent electoral group consisting of KPU, independent of Legislature team. Although the organizer of Aceh elections is the General Elections Commission (KPU), the KPU have a structural level that ordered the KIP to report to it. Aceh Qanun No. 7 Year 2007 on General Election Organizers in Aceh strengthens the provisions in the law and so far the law has made several changes to Aceh Qanun No. 6 Year 2016 on General Election Organizers in Aceh. According to the Qanun, the Legislature (represented by committee of DPRK) forms an independent team consisting of academics, community leaders, and members of non-governmental organizations (NGOs), with a focus on at least 30 percent representation of women. The implementation of elections between Aceh and Indonesia in general, as well as the results of the election, are different. Aceh regional elections are known as democratic elections and therefore serve as guidelines for elections in Indonesia and even internationally.
The regional elections in Aceh which are held simultaneously and accommodate candidates through individual channels are a view that is considered a good lesson for reforming the electoral system in the country. It is a common knowledge that individual candidates were legally recognized in 2006 Aceh regional election. Simultaneous elections had also been organized in Aceh since 2006. When other provinces had not provided space for individual candidates, Aceh had accommodated them. At that time no KPU regulations and laws related to individual candidates had been stipulated yet, but Aceh opened it based on the Aceh government law, which was then implemented with Qanuns and KIP regulations and provided space for citizens who advanced from the individual channel with the support of three percent of the population. Elections are also contested by local political parties. Local parties are expected to be an answer to the needs of people's aspirations that have not been comprehensively responded to by the central government. Aceh first held simultaneous elections to elect 20 regents/mayors and one governor on 11 November 2006. It was the first election held since Aceh ended the three decades of armed conflict. In this election, Aceh accommodated individual candidates as a result of a peace agreement between the Free Aceh Movement and the Indonesia Government. Meanwhile, local political parties have only participated in general elections since 2009.

Analysis of the Role of Aceh's Local Parties in 2024 General Election in Realizing Democratization
In recent years, there seems to be a lot of unfair competitions. These include the implementation of the governor, regent and mayor elections. Most of them was because of the dissatisfaction of the competing parties. The incident that occurred in the process of political democracy has at least drawn public attention, affecting the participation of community members in channeling their aspirations. The implementation of 2024 regional elections is the latest experience for election organizers because the determination of regional heads can be held simultaneously with the national election in 2024 in each region. Regarding the implications of the postponement of the simultaneous elections, several issues will be described below. The ongoing vacancy of governors and vice governors in several regions including Aceh Province. 19 Elections can be said to be aspirational and democratic if they meet several requirements. First, the elections must be competitive, in the sense that the participants in the elections must be free and autonomous. Second, elections are held regularly, in the sense that elections must be held regularly with a clear time interval. Third, elections must be inclusive, meaning that all groups of people must have equal opportunities to participate in elections. No single group is treated discriminatively in the electoral process. Fourth, voters should be given the flexibility to consider and discuss their alternatives in a free atmosphere, under no pressure, and access to extensive information. Fifth, election organizers are impartial or independent in their position as pillars of democracy. The role of political parties in the national political system is a forum for national and regional leadership selection. Experience in organizing a series of national and regional leadership selection through elections directly proves the success of political parties as a pillar of democracy. 20 The movement of local parties in Aceh is seen massively in three election processes, namely  Parties explains that political parties have general and special purposes. The general objective is to realize the national ideals of the Indonesian nation and maintain the integrity of the Republic of Indonesia, develop a democratic life based on Pancasila by upholding the sovereignty of the people in the Republic of Indonesia, and realize the prosperity for all Indonesian people. The specific purpose is to increase the political participation of community members for the implementation of political and government activities, fighting for the ideals of political parties in the life of the nation and state. Political parties also serve as a means of political education for members and the community to create a conducive climate for the unity of the Indonesian as a nation for the welfare of the people. They also serve to absorb, collect and distribute political aspirations of the people and political participation of the people. 22 It is predicted that local parties' existence are highly likely at stake in 2024. The main reason for it is because it cannot be separated from finances and even has a dependence on bohir (sponsors).
Using the leadership approach, the fact that Acehnese elites have not matured yet politically makes local parties currently have no longer central figures who can cultivate democracy in Aceh to make them remain dear to the community. Although local parties are welcomed by politicians, what needs to be noted is that sacred decisions in the nation's politics are to be made this year and it is time for local parties to participate in deciding the nation's politics, especially in Aceh.
The development of democratic elections is characterized by 3 (three) conditions. The first one is the competition in the fight for and maintain power. The second one is community participation.
And the last one is the guarantee of civil rights in politics. The presence of the three conditions makes the election a room where a democratic value is present that will give birth to a democratic atmosphere and manifest concretely in public life and be felt by anyone who sees and is involved in it. In countries that embrace democracy, the idea of popular participation has an ideological basis that the people have the right to determine public policies. Therefore, the most realistic logic of the dynamics of Acehnese political development today is the increasingly open opportunities for national parties to collaborate with their local counterparts. National parties could also collaborate to nominate their own candidate. This is because the existence and accountability of local parties are increasingly declining, giving rise to national parties in the political realm in Aceh. 23 As an important element in the implementation of democracy, elections must be held democratically as reflected by the principles and values of democracy itself. The nature of electoral democracy is needed to allow the democratic mechanism to actually be realized in real life. Through elections, the people not only choose people to serve as their representatives but also to fight for the desired program to be state policy in the next government. 24 Adding local parties to the fray, the political dynamics in Aceh are getting sharper. On the other hand, the central elites also tend to want to hold the leadership of Aceh to strengthen their political machine at the national level. Thus, a new dispute between the central and regional elites 22  begin to emergy, namely the political rivalry between local and national parties. The regulation of UUPA related to individual candidates in regional elections is very influential at national level. Ideology and values are the foundation of a political party's relationship with its constituents. Furthermore, these constitutients have three pillars, namely human resources, internal party procedures and mechanisms, and financial resources. A party must build ideology as the foundation of its mindset and program. When a clear ideology and values are absent, the party can identify groups of people who have more or less one thing in common with the ideology that the party wants to develop: only then can organizing be carried out. Eventually, programs can be developed.
Ideology and values are faced with all problems in order to develop an offer of solutions to problems, whether economic, social, or interreligious ones, etc. This will make the ideology continuously applied or alive. It becomes a cycle, thus an upward spiral. 25 Therefore, in its early stages, local parties should be seen as an alternative to fight for the aspirations of the local community. Yet, local parties are determined by how much Acehnese people respond to the performance of the government, both at the central and local levels. In other words, whether or not the Aceh local party is popular will be determined by the Acehnese people themselves. If they are satisfied with the consistency of the Indonesian government in implementing the policies as agreed upon to be carried out, the votes that the Acehnese people cast for national parties will be greater than for local parties. Conversely, if Acehnese people are disappointed and think they are not treated fairly enough by the government, then local parties will tend to be their political choice. 26 The democratic system of government is a form of popular sovereignty, meaning that the sovereign of the people is only the people themselves. A democratic government is a government that is always responsive to the interests of the people. According to Robert A. Dahl, as quoted by Franz Magnis, democracy has seven essential characteristics. 27 These characteristics are: 1) Elected officials; 2) free and fair elections; 3) all-encompassing suffrage; 4) the right to be a candidate for a position; 5) freedom of oral and written expression; 6) alternative information; 7) freedom to form associations.
Based on this, local parties have a big role in 2024 regional election. The presence of political parties is expected to provide political education for the wider community, especially the Acehnese people, in order to become citizens who are aware of the rights and obligations in the life of the nation and state. They are also expected to absorb, collect, and channel the aspirations of the people in formulating and setting state policies. Political parties is ideally directed towards activating and mobilizing the people, representing certain interests, providing a way of compromise for competing opinions, and providing a means of legitimate and peaceful leadership succession. Thus, the function of political parties towards the state is to create effective government and political participation towards the ruling government. The function of political parties to the people, on the other hand, involve fighting for the interests, aspirations, and values of the community and providing protection and security. 28

CONCLUSION
Aceh's local parties have an important role in 2024 elections in realizing democratization, with 6 local parties planned to participate in the simultaneous general/regional elections in 2024, proving that the juridical aspects of the legislation governing local parties are still being realized, and the democratic values of popular sovereignty are still being upheld. However, the role, existence and accountability of Aceh's local parties is currently increasingly declining, giving greater stage to national parties that pique Acehnese people's interest. This is because local parties no longer have central figures who can develop democracy in Aceh. Local political parties play a role in protecting and promoting the economic, social, cultural, linguistic and educational rights of certain minority groups, and also want autonomy for their regions or enforce and improve the autonomy rights that the region already has, as well as guaranteeing its territorial independence.. The development of local elections is characterized by three prerequisites. The first prerequisite is the competition in the fight for and maintain power. The second prerequisite is community participation. And the third prerequisite is the guarantee of civil rights in politics. The electoral space is the cradle of democratic values and the atmosphere of democracy that appears concretely in public life. The democratic system of government is a form of popular sovereignty, meaning that sovereignty over the people is solely in their hands. A democratic government is a government that always puts the interests of the people first.