Observer: Political Parties In Senayan Must Support PDIP And DPD Postpone Amendment To The 1945 Constitution

DPR RI Building (Photo: Irfan Meidianto/VOI)

JAKARTA - The request of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP) and the Regional Representatives Council (DPD) at the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) to postpone the amendment to the 1945 Constitution regarding the Principles of State Policy (PPHN) and strengthening the DPD institution should be supported.

This was said by an observer of political communication at Esa Unggul University, Jamiluddin Ritonga in response to PDIP's request to temporarily suspend the agenda for the amendment of the 1945 Constitution following the many proposals to postpone the 2024 General Election. three-term president. According to him, the stowaways have capital and power that can influence members of the MPR RI who think pragmatically.

"They, through their accomplices, continue to fight to influence the MPR to enter its agenda when the amendment door is opened. The target is clear, when the amendment door is opened, the agenda for postponing the election and the president for three terms must enter," Jamiluddin told VOI, Friday, March 18.

Therefore, Jamiluddin considered that other political parties in Senayan should support the request of the PDIP and DPD RI to postpone the amendment to the 1945 Constitution. In particular, to include PPHN and strengthen the DPD institution. "At least Gerindra, Democrats, PKS, NasDem, and PPP support the PDIP and DPD requests," he said.

The firm stance of the political parties, said Jamiluddin, is needed so that their members in the DPR RI and the MPR RI are not tempted by the henchmen of the power owners and the oligarchs. "They will automatically be protected by their political parties so that there are not enough votes to amend the 1945 Constitution," he said.

Jamiluddin emphasized that members of the public must also take a stand against political parties that support postponing elections and the president for three terms. "The public needs to give sanctions to the political parties, including those who insist on the 1945 Constitution amendment," he said.

Jamiluddin said that if the public were to impose sanctions by not voting for that political party in the 2024 election, then the desire of certain political parties to amend the 1945 Constitution could be suppressed. "Only the most powerful people can pressure the political parties to stay away from power-hungry parties and oligarchs," he said. Previously, the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP) requested that the agenda for the 1945 Constitution Amendment to revive the State Policy Principles (PPHN), which is currently being discussed by the MPR Study Board, be temporarily suspended. The PDI-P's attitude reversed for fear that the agenda would be infiltrated by amendments to the article on extending the president's term of office.

"Given the political dynamics that are developing, especially now that there is a lot of discussion about postponing the election which will have implications for the extension of the presidential term, it is better if the plan for a limited amendment to the Constitution is not implemented in the 2019-2024 period," said Deputy Chair of the Indonesian MPR from the PDIP faction, Ahmad Basarah, Thursday, March 17, 2022.

According to Basarah, the amendments to the 1945 Constitution should not be carried out in a psychological situation that is not as conducive as it is today. He assessed that currently there is mutual suspicion among the components of the nation regarding the interests of individuals and certain groups.

"Before starting the formal steps to amend the Constitution, the MPR must first ensure that the situation and condition of the nation's political psychology are in a conducive state and share a common sense that the amendments to the 1945 Constitution are a necessity of the nation, not the interests of one group, let alone certain individuals," said the PDIP politician.