From the first page to the last page of this series, it is clear that the issue of the Village Head Election is not just a technical matter of voting, but also a matter of legal certainty, procedural justice, and the presence of the state in the increasingly complex village political space.
Many Regulations, but Not Firm
The legal framework for village head elections in Bekasi Regency is not lacking in regulations. Central regulations, regional regulations, and even multiple technical guidelines have been developed to support the 2026 simultaneous village head elections. However, the abundance of regulations does not automatically provide legal certainty.
In practice, overlapping regulations between the central and regional governments create wide room for interpretation. This situation often leads village committees, the Village Consultative Body (BPD), and even sub-district governments to make decisions based on custom rather than clear legal norms. This situation was reviewed in detail in the Bekasi Regency 2026 Village Head Election regulatory mapping report .
When the law is not firm, village head elections lack a crucial element of democracy: certainty. Villagers are forced to accept a process that is administratively legitimate but legitimately fragile.
Regulatory Delays and Their Impact on the Ground
One crucial issue that emerged in this series was the delay in issuing implementing regulations. Regent's regulations and technical guidelines often arrived close to the village head election date, even when the stages were already underway.
As a result, the village head election committee operates in a murky situation. Many important decisions are made without a solid legal basis. This situation opens up the potential for post-election lawsuits, as discussed further in the analysis of the weaknesses of the village head election derivative regulations .
Furthermore, the delay in regulations reflects the structural unpreparedness of local governments to manage large-scale village head elections. Villages are the most impacted, while the state's presence is limited to administrative formalities.
BPD, PAW, and the Issue of Legitimacy
Series Two also highlights the position of the Village Consultative Body (BPD), which is often caught between its oversight function and conflicts of interest. In many cases, the BPD loses its bargaining power when confronted with local political interests.
The issue of interim replacements (PAW) of village heads and village officials further complicates the situation. Unclear regulations make the PAW process vulnerable to politicization, especially when village head elections take place in situations of open conflict.
This issue of legitimacy is not isolated. It is intertwined with the legal framework for the simultaneous village head elections (Pilkada Serentak Desa 2026), which was previously outlined in the main report on the 2026 Bekasi Simultaneous Village Head Elections .
Weak Dispute Resolution
One of the most important findings in Series Two is the weakness of the village head election dispute resolution mechanism. The absence of a special village head election court means disputes are resolved administratively, and even politically.
In many cases, regents or regional officials act as the "final judges" without a transparent judicial review mechanism. This creates the impression that the fairness of village head elections relies heavily on power, not the law.
This situation strengthens the potential for further conflict as seen in the analysis of the dynamics of the simultaneous village head elections conflict .
Risk of Lawsuits After Village Head Elections
Weaknesses in regulations and dispute resolution have opened the door to post-village head election lawsuits. These lawsuits don't always end up in court, but often manifest as social conflict, rejection of the results, and even the delegitimization of elected village heads.
In this context, village head elections are no longer a conflict resolution mechanism, but rather a source of new conflict. This risk is exacerbated when regulations fail to protect all parties equally.
This phenomenon is directly related to the practice of money politics and the high political costs that are discussed in the report on the risks of money politics in village head elections .
The State Exists on Paper
Series Two consistently demonstrates that the state's presence in village head elections is more administrative than substantive. Regulations are formulated, but oversight is weak. Rules are enforced, but sanctions are rarely effective.
The state seems to be present on paper but absent on the ground. This situation reinforces local politics that operate based on power relations, not legal principles.
This criticism of the weak role of the state is an important introduction to the final analysis of the problem of village head elections regulation .
Red Thread Series Two
In broad terms, Series Two emphasizes that the main problem with the Village Head Elections in Bekasi Regency is not a lack of regulations, but rather the absence of firm and fair laws.
Weak regulations create uncertainty, open up opportunities for conflict, and erode public trust. In the long term, this situation is detrimental to village democracy, the foundation of national democracy.
This entire series of coverage is part of the in-depth coverage developed by the Jingga News editorial team .
Conclusion: Village Head Elections and the Future of Village Democracy
The second series of the 2026 Village Head Elections (Pilkada) for Bekasi Regency invites us to view Pilkades as more than just a routine five- or six-yearly event. It is a serious test for the state in ensuring justice, legal certainty, and democracy at the most basic level.
Without regulatory reforms and fair dispute resolution mechanisms, village head elections will continue to be a space for latent conflict. Villages, which should be spaces for learning about democracy, risk becoming fields of collective disappointment.
This conclusion serves as a link to the next series which will examine the dynamics of village power after the village head elections and the political consequences of fragile regulations.
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