Majority of House Factions Oppose Closed-List Proportional System
Eight out of nine factions at the House oppose the idea to adopt a closed-list proportional system for the 2024 election.
By
KURNIA YUNITA RAHAYU, IQBAL BASYARI, DIAN DEWI PURNAMASARI
·4 minutes read
ADRYAN YOGA PARAMADWYA
KPU chairman Hasyim Asy'ari (center) gives a press statement at the KPU Office, Jakarta, Wednesday (21/12/2022). KPU will involve experts to follow up on the Constitutional Court's decision regarding Law Number 7 of 2017 concerning Elections.
JAKARTA, KOMPAS — Opposition to the idea for changing the legislative election system from an open-list proportional system back to a closed list is widespread. Opposition came not only from a number of community groups, but also the majority of political parties who have representatives at the House of Representatives (DPR).
Eight out of nine factions at the House oppose the idea to adopt a closed-list proportional system for the 2024 election. They are the Golkar Party, the Gerindra Party, the Nasdem Party, the National Awakening Party (PKB), the Democratic Party, the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS), the National Mandate Party (PAN) and the United Development Party (PPP). Only the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) faction agrees with the re-implementation of a closed-list proportional system. In a closed-list proportional system voters only punch party pictures in the elections, not the name/picture of the legislative candidate, which is an open-list proportional system.
In an open-list proportional system, voters can directly choose the names of candidates for members of the legislatives bodies.
In a joint statement on Tuesday (3/1/2023), eight factions at the House asked the Constitutional Court (MK) to be consistent with the previous decision by maintaining Article 168 Paragraph (2) of Law No. 7/ 2017 concerning Elections, which regulates that elections for members of the House, Regional Representatives Council (DPD), Provincial DPRD and Regency/Municipal DPRD are carried out using an open-list proportional system.
Article 168 Paragraph (2) of Law No. 7/2017 is currently being examined by the Constitutional Court, who was asked to review the article because it was considered to be contrary to the constitution, causing multidimensional problems such as money politics and the weakening of the party’s identity. This judicial review triggers a discourse that the election would again use a closed-list proportional system.
Democracy
Fourteen leaders from eight factions and leaders of the House commissions have signed a statement rejecting the adoption of a closed-list proportional system. Some of them are the leaders of House Commission II, namely Ahmad Doli Kurnia Tandjung, Saan Mustopa, Yanuar Prihatin and Syamsurizal.
They stated that the constitution mandated that Indonesia adhere to a direct election system, both for presidential elections, regional head elections and legislative member elections. The mandate of the 1945 Constitution became the basis for the Constitutional Court to issue Constitutional Court Decision No. 22-24/PUU-VI/2008 on Dec. 28, 2008. “Since that time, the people are given the opportunity to know, elect and vote their representatives directly. It is no longer a closed-list [system], no longer relying completely on the authority of political parties," they said.
This achievement of democracy should be maintained.
ADRYAN YOGA PARAMADWYA
PP Muhammadiyah chairman Haedar Nashir (center) talks with KPU RI chairman Hasyim Asy'ari (right) in a meeting at the Muhammadiyah Dakwah Center Building, Jakarta, Tuesday (3/1/2023). During the meeting, PP Muhammadiyah reminded that the 2024 elections would not only be a place to fight for power, but also to build unity and progress for the nation.
Democratic Party chairman Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono said readoption of a closed-list proportional system could undermine the quality of democracy, restore a centralized model of power and deny the hard work of party cadres in fostering their constituents.
Problems arising from the implementation of an open-list proportional system, continued Agus, could be answered with collective improvement efforts without destroying the progressive steps that have been implemented so far.
Deputy Speaker of the House from the Gerindra Fraction, Sufmi Dasco Ahmad, said an open-list proportional system was more capable of realizing the principle of equity as well as providing benefits for new political parties.
Separately, Secretary-General of the PDI-P, Hasto Kristiyanto, revealed that his party was pushing for a closed-list proportional system because election participants were political parties. A closed-list system is also more appropriate to implement in the midst of global uncertainty. This is because the system can simplify the process and save costs for organizing elections.
PP Muhammadiyah, which also encourages the implementation of a closed-list proportional system, believes that this system can reduce political cannibalism which has the potential to cause polarization in society. "With a closed or limited open system, it is hoped that the practice of money politics can be reduced," said Secretary-General of PP Muhammadiyah Abdul Mu'ti.
