Reject The Proportional System Closed Evidence Of Commitment Continue Political Reform

Temporary design of ballots and the 2024 Election form, if implementing a closed proportional system, there may be no more names or photos of legislative candidates. (Between/Nyoman Hendra Wibowo)

JAKARTA - The joint statement rejecting the proportional system closed by the eight political parties initiated by the Golkar Party must be expanded involving non-parliamentary parties and new political parties participating in the 2024 General Election. This is to maintain people's sovereignty in jointly rejecting a closed proportional system.

"I think the eight political parties that own the parliamentary seats have shown their commitment to the sustainability of Indonesia's political system reform while maintaining and upholding the principles of people's sovereignty in elections," said Citra Institute Political Observer Yusak Farchan, Wednesday, January 11.

However, he continued, an open proportional system guarantees the accountability and involvement of the people in the electoral process, especially in choosing representatives of the people. Meanwhile, closed proportionality also has the potential to weaken relations between people's representatives and the people after the election. "Therefore, there is no argumentative reason to turn the electoral system into closed proportional," said Yusak.

In addition, the decision of the Constitutional Court (MK) in 2008 clearly ordered the most use of votes in determining the elected candidates. With the attitude of the eight political parties who reject a closed proportional system, according to Yusak, they carry out an important role and maintain democracy. I think it is necessary to emphasize again that political parties have an important role as pillars of democracy that must safeguard people's sovereignty. It is the people's sovereignty that is the true essence of democracy, "explained Yusak.

He added that the next important message from the joint attitude of the 8 political parties initiated by Golkar was a warning that the KPU would continue to carry out its duties as election organizers by maintaining its neutrality and independence.

"The KPU must not enter the realm of practical politics by becoming a partisan or supporter of one of the existing electoral systems. The task of the KPU is to implement the law by maintaining its neutrality, "said Yusak. Previously, eight political parties expressed a joint stance against a closed proportional system in the Darmawangsa area, South Jakarta, Sunday, January 8. They are Golkar, Gerindra, NasDem, Democrats, PKS, PKB, PAN, and PPP. In a statement of 8 political parties, General Chairperson of the Golkar Party Airlangga Hartarto asked the KPU to continue to carry out the stages of the 2024 General Election as agreed together and stated in the regulations that have been published. "KPU continues to carry out its duties as election organizer by maintaining neutrality and independence in accordance with the laws," he said in Darmawangsa, South Jakarta, Sunday, January 8. Airlangga confirmed that they agreed to reject the proportionally closed and had a commitment to keep the progress of democracy in Indonesia that had been carried out since the reform era. "The closed proportional election system is a setback for our democracy," said Airlangga. Meanwhile, an open proportional electoral system according to them is an embodiment of democracy based on people's sovereignty, where the people can determine legislative candidates nominated by political parties. "The election system with open proportionality is the right choice and has been in accordance with the decision of the Constitutional Court Number 22-24/PUU-VI/2008 on December 23, 2008 which has been carried out in three elections and the lawsuit against jurisprudence will be a bad precedent for our law and is not in line with the principle of nebis in idem, "explained Airlangga.