Puan: Political Parties Are The People's And State Bridge

Illustration of the political party flag (ANTARA)

Chairman of the Indonesian House of Representatives, Puan Maharani, stated that political parties are not only a tool for power but also a means to connect society with the state.

This was conveyed by Puan in her speech at the Joint Session of the DPR and DPD RI at the Parliament Complex, Senayan, Jakarta, Friday, August 15.

Also present were President Prabowo Subianto, 7th President of the Republic of Indonesia Jokowi, 6th President of the Republic of Indonesia Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY), 13th Vice President Ma'ruf Amin, 10th Vice President and 12th RI Jusuf Kalla (JK) to 6th Vice President Try Sutrisno.

The political party is not just a vehicle towards power, but a bridge between the people and the state. It is from the party that representatives of the people are born. It is from the party that the president and regional heads are promoted. Therefore, political parties bear a big responsibility as a supporter of people's sovereignty," said Puan.

Puan emphasized that in the Pancasila democratic system which became the political foundation of Indonesia, deliberation and wisdom of wisdom must be the main guide in every decision-making, in order to bring goodness to all the people.

"Pancasila democracy places deliberation as the main process, and wisdom wisdom as a source of thought and conscience in every decision-making so as to bring goodness to all the people, and not leave anyone behind," said Puan.

According to him, the strategic role of political parties is very large in maintaining the sovereignty of the people. Through political parties, said Puan, representatives of the people were born and the president had to fight for the interests of the people.

"Political parties are not just organizational structures. Political parties are struggle institutions that should stand upright above the values, integrity, and beliefs of the people. Because, parties without value of struggle will bring power to lose direction and meaning to the people," he said.

Because of the strategic role of political parties, Puan also reminded the importance of internal improvement of political parties in order to produce leaders who are not only rhetoric, but also take sides with the people and dare to take risks for the public interest.

"Political parties must not stop fixing themselves. Parties must be the birthplace of leaders who are not only good at talking, but also able to take sides, work, and dare to take risks in the interests of the people," said Puan.

Even so, Puan assessed, the success of political parties is also greatly determined by the political system that accommodates it, especially the electoral system.

"Whatever the party's vision and integrity, if the political system, especially the electoral system, does not support the realization of people's sovereignty in real terms, then people's voices are at risk of being distorted," said the chairman of the PDIP DPP.

Puan added that currently the electoral system in Indonesia still has challenges in representing the will of the people. So that the electoral system needs to be discussed together so that it is closer to the people.

"Our election system, as the main means of forming representatives, is not yet completely perfect. Our challenge is to ensure that this system really brings the will of the people closer to placing its representatives and choosing its leaders," said Puan.