TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Teguh Dartanto, Head of Poverty and Development Studies at Universitas Indonesia, said that high-cost political campaigns may resulted in corruption. He calculated that a legislative candidate may have to spend cash ranging from US$80,000 to US$300,000 to finance campaign activities.
"This is an alarming phenomenon. If they are elected, they will try to regain the money they have spent for the campaign," Teguh said in a press release on Thursday, March 20, 2014.
Teguh also pointed out that a particular candidate had spent US$500,000 for campaign activities.
"Since there is no guarantee that he will be elected, this [political expenses] is irrational. The candidate will likely turn into a corruptor [if he/she is elected]," he said.
Teguh suggested that campaign budget must be regulated in the next elections.
MUHAMAD RIZKI