Political Constellations Grow Increasingly Dynamic
Eight political parties have unanimously opposed talks of implementing a closed-list proportional electoral system. This illustrates how political constellations in Indonesia are still very dynamic.
By
IQBAL BASYARI, RAYNARD KRISTIAN BONANIO PARDEDE, NORBERTUS ARYA DWIANGGA MARTIAR
·6 menit baca
KOMPAS/RONY ARIYANTO NUGROHO
Leaders of parliamentary political parties hold hands after gathering in the Early Years Political Gathering at the Dharmawangsa Hotel, South Jakarta, Sunday (8/1/2023).
JAKARTA, KOMPAS – The opposition of eight political parties that hold seats in the House of Representatives toward the implementation of a closed-list proportional electoral system in the 2024 elections illustrates that political party relations are still very dynamic. Both pro-government and opposition parties united over their shared opinion that a closed-list system is disadvantageous.
“If it decides the life or death of a party, then all political parties can come to an agreement because it concerns the party’s existence, the need to survive in parliament and receive as many votes as possible,” said Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) politics and social change head, Arya Fernandes, on Sunday (8/1/2023).
Leaders of seven political parties with House seats met at Dharmawangsa Hotel in South Jakarta on Sunday (8/1) to reject the closed-list system. This includes the Golkar Party, the National Awakening Party (PKB), the Democratic Party, the National Mandate Party (PAN), the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) and the United Development Party (PPP). The Gerindra Party’s leadership was not present but also rejected the closed-list system.
Of the nine political parties that have House seats, only the Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) supports a closed-list system.
Talks of reimposing a closed-list system arose following the judicial review of Article 168 Paragraph (2) of Law No. 7/2017 concerning the elections. The Constitutional Court has scheduled a follow-up session to hear statements from the House, the President and related parties on 17January 2023.
Democracy
Golkar chairman Airlangga Hartarto said meetings between the eight parties would be routinely held until talks of a closed-list system subside. An open-list system was deemed a better reflection of democracy as the people would be aware of which candidate they are electing.
“We reject the [closed-list] system as a commitment to safeguarding Indonesian democracy,” he said.
In his opinion, the implementation of a closed-list system could lead to a decline in Indonesia’s democracy. An open-list system has also been deemed more effective since it has been used in the last three elections and is in accordance with the mandate of Constitutional Court decision No. 22-24/PUU 6/2008.
KOMPAS/RONY ARIYANTO NUGROHO
Leaders of parliamentary political parties shook hands and said goodbye after gathering at the Early Years Political Gathering at the Dharmawangsa Hotel, South Jakarta, Sunday (8/1/2023).
Moreover, it may also be inappropriate to use a closed-list system when the government has already allocated a budget for the 2024 elections and the General Elections Commission (KPU) has drawn up the stages for holding the elections according to mutual agreements. Airlangga added that the 2024 elections needed to be held properly.
PKB chairman Muhaimin Iskandar concurred. PKB asked that the KPU remained consistent with the election agenda and schedule that had already been set. “There are already plans, stages and budgets. It is better if everything goes according to the national agenda that has been planned,” he said.
Meanwhile, Democratics chairman Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono said that his party had firmly rejected a closed-list system from the beginning as it weakened democracy.
PKS president Ahmad Syaikhu also conveyed the same. He invited all parties to eliminate doubts over the system used today and asked election organizers to carry out democratic processes independently and fairly.
PAN chairman Zulkifli Hasan said that the implementation of a new system could also disrupt political parties’ current focus of screening candidates for the legislative contest. “We reject a closed-list system. We must stick to the schedule. [Legislative] candidates have already been drafted. Just imagine having to do that all over again,” he said.
When contacted, Gerindra deputy chairman Sufmi Dasco Ahmad emphasized that even though his party’s representative did not attend this meeting, Gerindra agreed with the points conveyed by the other seven parties. Gerindra believes that the people have the power to choose their representatives, not the party. As for Gerindra’s absence, it was because several of the party’s executives had other commitments.
Separately, PDI-P secretary-general Hasto Kristiyanto respected the meeting of the eight political party leaders at Dharmawangsa Hotel. He deemed it a democratic tradition in Indonesia.
KOMPAS/NORBERTUS ARYA DWIANGGA MARTIAR
Secretary General of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle Hasto Kristiyanto at the Dinner for 10,000 DKI Jakarta residents held by the DKI Jakarta PDI-P Regional Leadership Council in Tanah Tinggi, Central Jakarta, Sunday (8/1/2023). The event is part of a series of celebrations to welcome the 50th anniversary of the PDI Perjuangan on January 10.
Regarding PDI-P’s support for a closed-list system, Hasto explained that this was decided at a congress, based on a thorough study of a closed-list proportional electoral system. As for efforts to submit a judicial review at the Constitutional Court, Hasto stated that PDI-P did not meet the requirements to submit one. Thus, he ensured that the party would respect whatever the Court’s decision will be.
“What we need to be aware of is that judicial reviews at the Constitutional Court are used to test laws against the 1945 Constitution. That is what is being tested, not opinions, but laws against our Constitution,” he said.
Dynamic
According to Arya Fernandes, political constellations in Indonesia are still very dynamic. On one hand, political parties may differ, such as in choosing an alliance. On the other, such as concerning electoral systems, parties unanimously rejected the closed-list system.
Arya explained that parties who rejected a closed-list system were aware of how the implementation of this system could reduce their votes. They are also aware that political parties will have to work harder in a closed-list system, by focusing on socialization, image building and infrastructure for winning. Thus far, the hard work only falls on party cadres or candidates that will be contesting the elections.
Moreover, Arya continued, there is only a little over a year left until voting day on 15 February 2024 and almost all political parties are gearing up to win. Should there be a change in the system, especially regarding the method of voting, political parties will not have time to adapt.
Small political parties that do not have well-known figures will find it more difficult to compete.
Meanwhile, PDI-P would benefit from returning to a closed-list system, said Arya. As a cadre party, PDI-P’s efforts to win votes in a closed-list system are much easier compared to mass-based parties.
Indonesian Survey Institute executive director Djayadi Hanan explained that political parties that can benefit from a closed-list system are typically large parties that have national figures whom they can popularize among voters. This is because currently the influence of political party figures is quite high in determining voter preferences.
Conversely, small political parties that do not have well-known figures will find it more difficult to compete. They cannot only rely on local figures, which are usually more effective in open-list systems as they are able to lure in voters from a designated electoral district. If the names of local figures are not on the ballot paper, then there is nothing that can be associated with the party.
