REGIONAL GOVERNMENT AUTONOMY IN INDONESIA: THE AMBIGUITY OF THE FEDERALISM OR REPUBLIC MODEL

Over the years, there has been ongoing debates regarding the optimal role and status of regional governments as representatives of the central government, with a primary focus on the degree of autonomy afforded to local governments. This paper provides a critical analysis of the issues surrounding regional government autonomy within a republican framework. Central to this examination are significant concerns about the relationship between the central government and regional administrations, extending down to the grassroots level, as well as the dynamics between regional governments and village-level administrations. The research methodology employed in this study is doctrinal, scrutinising the Constitution of Indonesia and other relevant legal frameworks concerning regional governance. The findings reveal that constitutional provisions in Indonesia serve as a basis for unwarranted central government interference in regional affairs. Despite the constitutional mandate to free regional governance from central control and allow for independent regional management, practical and ideological challenges persist. The results indicate that while the Indonesian Constitution aims to provide regional governments with significant autonomy, in practice, the central government retains substantial control over regional affairs. This central interference often undermines the effectiveness and independence of regional administrations, particularly at the village level. The study highlights the need for a clearer delineation of powers to enable more effective regional governance. In conclusion, the paper asserts that the republican governmental system inherently supports the existence of regional administrations capable of independent operation. However, constitutional constraints pose significant challenges to achieving a fully autonomous regional governance system. The study proposes that further delegation and realisation of broad and independent regional management should be entrusted to regional governments through comprehensive decentralisation. Nonetheless, achieving this remains challenging due to the prevailing dualistic paradigm of regional autonomy. The paper calls for a more robust framework to ensure true autonomy for regional governments, involving a significant shift in both legal and administrative practices to reduce central government interference and enhance local governance capabilities.