Reviewing the Term of Office of Village Heads: Between Political Interests and Legal Principles

Abstract

This research examines village heads' terms of office in the context of village government in Indonesia. The term of office of a village head determined by law has an important impact on local political stability, government effectiveness and community participation. Changes in terms of office and periodization, which are often influenced by political dynamics and government policies, have a significant impact on administrative stability, village management effectiveness and community participation. This research aims to find out what influences the changes in the term of office of village heads and to determine the optimal length of term of office for village heads. The research method used is normative juridical. The research results show that changes in the tenure of village heads are influenced Philosophical, sociological and juridical factors all play a role in influencing the formation of policies regarding the tenure of village heads.. Ideally, the term of office of a village head needs to consider a balance between providing sufficient time to implement development programs and providing opportunities for leadership regeneration. A term of office that is too short or too long can have a negative impact on the continuity of development programs and community participation. A term of office of five years and a moving period of two is considered sufficient to achieve sustainable village development goals and encourage healthy and dynamic leadership changes. Limiting the term of office of village heads can also be used as a tool to control influential village heads and ensure their loyalty to the central or regional government. Therefore, this research recommends establishing a balanced term of office and accompanied by a regular evaluation mechanism to ensure that village heads can carry out their duties effectively and accountably.