Perpanjangan Masa Jabatan Kepala Desa Perspektif Kepala Desa di Kecamatan Pringgasela

Extension of the Village Head's Term of Office The Perspective of Village Heads in Pringgasela District

Abstract

The extension of the term of office of village heads constitutes a significant legal issue that has attracted considerable public attention. Following the enactment of Law Number 3 of 2024, the term of office of village heads was formally extended to eight years. However, the establishment of this legal framework has not necessarily resolved the ongoing debate and divergent views concerning the extension of the village head’s term of office. This issue constitutes the underlying rationale for the present study, which seeks to examine the ideal duration of the village head’s term of office from the perspective of incumbent village heads within the administrative jurisdiction of Pringgasela District.  This study employs an empirical legal research method using a conceptual approach and a statutory approach. The findings generally indicate that village government administrators perceive the extension of the village head’s term of office as an appropriate policy, primarily on the grounds that a longer tenure enables village governance to be carried out in a more focused and effective manner. Based on these findings, this study concludes that an eight-year term of office provides an adequate period for village heads to perform their duties and functions in accordance with the authority vested in them. At the same time, the tenure should be limited to a single term in order to ensure that village heads remain focused on exercising their governmental responsibilities without being distracted by conflicts of interest arising from political succession and efforts to secure re-election for a subsequent term.