House of Representatives Member Dave Akbarshah: Closed Proportional Electoral System Kills Democracy in Indonesia

Member of the Indonesian House of Representatives from the Golkar Party Dave Akbarshah Fikarno (DPR RI)

JAKARTA - Member of the Indonesian House of Representatives from the Golkar Party Dave Akbarshah Fikarno assesses that an open proportional system in elections can provide opportunities for the public to interact with candidates. Meanwhile, a closed system is the same as killing democracy in Indonesia

This was said by Dave in a discussion entitled "The Electoral System and the Future of Pancasila Democracy" at Nusantara III, Indonesian House of Representatives, Senayan, Jakarta, Wednesday, February 22 2023.

He is of the view that through proportionally open Legislative Candidates or Bacalegs, it will be easier to communicate with the public.

Because of that, emphasized Dave, the Golkar Party along with seven other parties, continues to support the implementation of the Open Proportional System to be implemented in the upcoming 2024 Election.

“We have to maintain the Open Proportional System. Don't let people's rights be shackled," said Dave in his statement, Thursday, February 23.

The politician from the Golkar Party faction explained that currently, an open proportional system makes it easier for the public to obtain more adequate information.

With the massive penetration of social media in people's lives, according to him, various information about legislative candidates, parties, and concepts promoted by a party will be easier to obtain. This allows the public to know better who they will vote for.

On the other hand, he is also worried that if the closed proportional system is re-applied, it will potentially be the beginning of the death of democracy in Indonesia.

Because, said Dave, it is not impossible, the system will reopen the election system for the head of the executive government, both at the central and regional levels, to be elected by the legislature.

Because of this, he believes that an open proportional system is still the ideal system to be implemented in Indonesia in the 2024 elections. However, he remains open to various evaluations that come from this system.

"With several regulations, the deficiencies of the Open Proportional Election System can be overcome," concluded the Member of Commission I of the Indonesian House of Representatives.