Only PDIPs That Want A Closed Proportional System, MPR Asks KPU To Focus Only On Elections

Illustration of a number of political parties participating in the general election. (Between)

JAKARTA - Deputy Chairman of the MPR, Hidayat Nur Wahid, asked the KPU to focus on implementing the stages of the 2024 Simultaneous Elections and not interfere with the decision of the Constitutional Court (MK) regarding the judicial review of the Election Law on an open proportional system. Moreover, of the 9 factions in the DPR RI, only one is the PDIP faction that accepts a closed proportional electoral system. Meanwhile, the attitude of the 8 other faction heads wants elections to be held with an open proportional system. This means that, except for the PDIP faction, all factions and parties participating in the DPR are compact in order to continue the open proportional system. Because the proportional system is open in accordance with the constitution, and that is in accordance with the previous Constitutional Court decision," Hidayat said in Jakarta, Thursday, January 5. According to HNW, in an open election system, the people can know and can directly choose legislative candidates who are trusted to be his representatives in parliament, unlike 'buying cats in sacks'.

As voters and owners of sovereignty, the people hope to use their rights to give'rewards or punishments' by paying attention to the track record and vision and mission of the legislative or political party they will choose, "explained the PKS legislator. This system, according to HNW, is also in line with the provision that sovereignty is in the hands of the people guaranteed by Article 1 paragraph (2) of the 1945 Constitution of the Republic of Indonesia. The member of the DPR who sits in Commission VIII of the DPR assesses that the attitude of the eight faction heads in the DPR must be one of the considerations of the Constitutional Court in deciding the election law testing case filed by a number of parties. Where the plaintiff wants the re-implementation of a closed proportional system.

The MK should also be consistent with its own decision which previously changed from a closed proportional system to open. And, the proportional system is more in accordance with the 1945 Constitution of the Republic of Indonesia," said the Deputy Chairperson of the PKS Shura Council. The MPR leadership hopes that the noise regarding the electoral system can be ended immediately with the rejection of the request for judicial review. So, said HNW, all parties involved, especially the KPU, can focus on carrying out all stages of the election.

The KPU leadership when meeting with the Chairman of PP Muhammadiyah has confirmed that the election on February 14, 2024 is a fixed price. (So) the KPU only focuses on its task of carrying out elections, and does not interfere in the polemic of the discourse on changing this closed system," said HNW. This is because, added HNW, in principle there is a presumption of institutionality principle, namely that a rule of law is considered constitutional as long as the Constitutional Court does not decide otherwise. And, what is valid at this time is an open proportional system. "So the Constitutional Court whose decisions are final and binding should also be consistent with the decisions it has made, so as not to cause noise that can cause public distrust and preparations for elections that are not optimal," he concluded.