Golkar Appreciates The Constitutional Court's Decision On The Open Election System, Ketum Airlangga: Right Decision

Chairman of the Golkar Party Airlangga Hartarto (doc Golkar)

JAKARTA - Chairman of the Golkar Party Airlangga Hartarto appreciated the decision of the Constitutional Court which rejected the lawsuit of a number of parties against the upcoming election system.

This rejection means that in accordance with the 2017 Election Law, the proportional election system is open, which will still apply in the 2023 General Election.

"This is the right decision and also a decision that pays attention to the aspirations of the people, including those voiced by eight political parties who reject the change of the open electoral system to a closed proportional electoral system," Airlangga said in a statement, Thursday, June 15.

Airlangga also asked all parties to continue to respect the Constitutional Court's decision, and carry out it as well as possible.

"Let's all respect this decision together to encourage more orderly elections," he said.

The Coordinating Minister for the Economy of the Republic of Indonesia also stated that this decision shows the victory of the community in facing the interests of a group of people who want to change the electoral system in the middle of the road.

"As we all know, the election stage, both the presidential and legislative elections, is currently underway and of course if there is a change it will affect the process that has been going on earlier," said Airlangga.

He asked the public and political parties including legislative candidates to concentrate more on processing their vision and mission as well as on the programs offered rather than spending energy on changing the electoral system.

"It is better for us and especially the Golkar Party, to focus on how to make the programs that will be offered to the public and voters, so that future elections are more beneficial for the nation and state," said Airlangga

Previously, six people filed a judicial review lawsuit for Law Number 7 of 2017 concerning Elections related to an open to closed proportional system at the Constitutional Court (MK) with case registration number 114/PUU-XX/2022 on November 14, 2022.

The six people, namely Demas Brian Wicaksono (Pemohon I), Yuwono Pintadi (Pemohon II), Fahrurrozi (Pemohon III), Ibnu Rachman Jaya (Permohon IV), Riyanto (Pemohon V), and Nono Marijono (Pemohon VI).

Meanwhile, eight of the nine political party factions in the DPR RI also stated that they rejected the closed proportional electoral system, namely the Golkar, Gerindra, Democrat, NasDem, PAN, PKB, PPP, and PKS factions.

Only one faction wants a closed proportional electoral system, namely the PDI Perjuangan.