Analisis Pelaksanaan Demokrasi dalam Pemilihan Gubernur Provinsi Aceh

Abstract

The peace accord of Helsinki Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Government of Indonesia (GoI) and the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) has become an important event for the democracy implementation in Aceh by promulgation of the new Law on Governing of Aceh (LoGA or UUPA). One of the points of the MoU and UUPA was political democratization by implementing direct election (PILKADA) of the Governor, of all over Aceh province in 2006. This event is a part of democracy in Aceh and the pioneer of direct election in Indonesia which made this as the most historic one. Further more, the direct election also has given opportunity for independent candidate pairs, especially the former GAM combatant to run for election freely against political parties affiliated candidates. It was an unpredicted result, in which an independent pair has successfully won. The candidates, who were predicted to be the winner, lost from the Irwandi Yusuf and Muhammad Nazar. The success of this direct election proves that the Aceh electorates are smart for democratic system; they are able to understand the existence of democracy as a good change, either politically, economically or socially to build Aceh.Keywords: Democracy, election for local Governor