Political Party Endorsement in Supporting the Sole Candidate Muhammad Fadhil Arief and H. Bakhtiar in the 2024 Simultaneous Regional Election of Batanghari Regency

Authors

  • Hatta Abdi Muhammad Universitas Jambi, Jambi, Indonesia.
  • Sutri Destemi Elsi Universitas Jambi, Jambi, Indonesia.
  • Cholillah Suci Pratiwi Universitas Jambi, Jambi, Indonesia.
  • Nasuhaidi Nasuhaidi Universitas Jambi, Jambi, Indonesia.
  • Arissy Jorgi Sutan Universitas Jambi, Jambi, Indonesia.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.38035/gijlss.v4i2.839

Keywords:

Political Party Endorsment, Sole Candidate, Batanghari Regency, Election

Abstract

This study analyzes the political party endorsement strategies leading to the sole-candidate scenario in Batanghari Regency during the 2024 simultaneous regional elections and its implications for democratic quality. While existing literature largely focuses on multi-candidate competition, a significant research gap remains regarding the specific mechanisms of "political cartels" that eliminate local opposition. Using a qualitative case study approach with NVivo 12 Plus, the research identifies that strategic alliances (44.83%), resource considerations (31.03%), and electability (24.14%) were the primary drivers of unanimous endorsements. The findings demonstrate that this "Three-Actor Framework" transforms elections into referendum-style contests, driven by public perception (41.38%) and elite dominance (34.48%) rather than ideological alignment. This research contributes to the field by offering a novel analytical model of how institutional fragility and pragmatic coalition-building, specifically the prioritization of short-term success (41.38%) over cadre development (24.14%), effectively neutralize electoral competitiveness. The study concludes that the "cartelization" of local parties erodes democratic resilience, suggesting an urgent need for regulatory reforms to restore pluralism.

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Published

2026-06-15

How to Cite

Muhammad, H. A., Elsi, S. D., Pratiwi, C. S., Nasuhaidi, N., & Sutan, A. J. (2026). Political Party Endorsement in Supporting the Sole Candidate Muhammad Fadhil Arief and H. Bakhtiar in the 2024 Simultaneous Regional Election of Batanghari Regency. Greenation International Journal of Law and Social Sciences, 4(2), 300–315. https://doi.org/10.38035/gijlss.v4i2.839

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Vol. 4 No. 2 (2026): (GIJLSS) Greenation International Journal of Law and Social Sciences (May - June 2026)

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Copyright (c) 2026 Hatta Abdi Muhammad, Sutri Destemi Elsi, Cholillah Suci Pratiwi, Nasuhaidi Nasuhaidi, Arissy Jorgi Sutan

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