Political Orientation of Female Legislative Candidates in the 2019 Aceh Legislative Elections: A Study on Female Ex-combatants in the Aceh Conflict

This article discussed the orientation of female candidates from ex-combatants of the Aceh conflict in the 2019 Legislative Election. The Pasee region consists of Lhokseumawe City and North Aceh Regency chosen based on the conflict history were the main areas of the Gerakan Aceh Merdeka (GAM) when demanding freedom for Aceh from the Government of Indonesia during 32 years conflict in Aceh. The female candidates as the speakers in this study were women who had taken part in the conflict and peace period in Aceh, consisting of former Inong Balee, activists, and daughters of GAM commander in the Pasee region. After that, they transformed to choose politics to continue the ideals of the struggle of the Acehnese. The results showed that female candidates from local and national parties were dependent on their political participation. The orientation of their nominations as female legislative candidates were based on historical orientation and raised the issues about their involvement during the conflict as indicated on the banners, billboards, and campaigns. This historical orientation made them want to realize the points of the peace agreement by nominating themselves to become members of the regency/city legislatures or province through their visions and missions at the time of nomination.