ABSTRACTThis paper discusses palm oil politics in the regent election of Nagan Raya 2017. Palm oil politics is a term referring to the political behaviour of business people (toke), involving the palm oil land and palm oil plantation owners during the regent election of Nagan Raya 2017. Nagan Raya regency is one of the largest palm oil producers in Aceh, where there are at least 18 companies and proprietorshzps in operation. This research is a qualitative research aimed to determine the motivation and participation of toke sawpit in the regent election of Nagan Raya. Toke Sawits are businessmen dependent on the state for business licensing and expanding land-use, which are related to environmental protection issues such as avoiding responsibility for ecological damage. Thus, some participate in regent politics by becoming a candidate and others act as supporters of regent candidates in the form of providing fUnds and mobilizing workers in their plantation. Motivation of toke sawpit is to get ease of doing business and have a role reinforcement of land conversion and deforestation issues.
