The implementation of people\u2019s sovereignty within the Pancasila\nDemocracy system cannot be confined to the right to vote in general\nelections. People\u2019s sovereignty must be realised continuously through\npublic participation in policy formulation, oversight of state\nadministration, and the accountability of power holders.<\/p>\n
This view emerged during a Focus Group Discussion (FGD) held by Group\nI of the People\u2019s Consultative Assembly (MPR) Assessment Body, themed\n\u2018People\u2019s Sovereignty in the Perspective of Pancasila Democracy\u2019, at the\nAryaduta Hotel, Bandung, on Monday (13\/7). The FGD was chaired by the\nHead of the MPR Assessment Body, Yasonna H. Laoly, and featured\nProfessor of Contemporary Political Science at Padjadjaran University,\nProf.\u00a0Caroline Paskarina; Head of the Postgraduate Political Science\nProgramme at Padjadjaran University, Ari Ganjar Herdiansah; and\nPadjadjaran University Law Faculty academic, Bilal Dewansyah.<\/p>\n
Prof.\u00a0Caroline explained that Indonesia possesses a relatively strong\nconstitutional and procedural foundation for conducting general\nelections and regional head elections. However, democracy has not yet\nfully delivered substantive people\u2019s sovereignty. She noted that various\nissues continue to affect the quality of democracy, such as the\ndominance of political party elites in the nomination process, high\npolitical costs, money politics practices, candidates\u2019 dependence on\nfinanciers, and the weak relationship between representatives and their\nconstituents after elections. She assessed that the main problem with\nIndonesian democracy lies not in the absence of democratic institutions,\nbut in the gap between the available democratic mechanisms and the\npublic\u2019s ability to genuinely influence, oversee, and correct the use of\nstate power.<\/p>\n
\u2018People\u2019s sovereignty must not stop on polling day. People\u2019s\nsovereignty must be present before, during, and after elections through\na healthy relationship between the people and their representatives,\u2019\nProf.\u00a0Caroline stated. She also emphasised that Pancasila Democracy does\nnot need to completely imitate the democratic practices of other\ncountries. Indonesian democracy needs to be built upon the nation\u2019s\nhistory, culture, and social realities, while upholding the limitation\nof power, respect for human rights, openness, accountability, and social\njustice. She also highlighted the importance of applying the principle\nof meaningful participation in the process of policy and legislation\nformation. It is not enough for the public to merely be given the\nopportunity to express opinions; they also have the right for their\ninput to be considered and to receive an explanation regarding whether\ntheir proposals are accepted or rejected.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Ari Ganjar assessed that the increasing mobilisation of\nstudents and the younger generation in recent years is an indicator that\nformal channels for conveying public aspirations are not yet fully\neffective. He argued that the main challenge for democracy is not low\npublic participation, but the suboptimal process of translating public\naspirations into responsive policies. \u2018The voice of the people must be\ntranslated into a public agenda, discussed openly, responded to by state\ninstitutions, and realised in policies that favour the people\u2019s\ninterests,\u2019 he said. He added that the concerns of the younger\ngeneration often stem from real issues such as limited job\nopportunities, rising education costs, economic pressures, and declining\ntrust in public institutions. Therefore, political education needs to be\ndeveloped using approaches suited to the character of the younger\ngeneration, including through digital media, simulations, educational\ngames, interactive forums, and community-based activities.<\/p>\n
Bilal Dewansyah highlighted the continued strong dominance of\npolitical parties in Indonesia\u2019s representative system. He argued that\nalthough legislators are elected by the people, in practice they often\ndepend more on party decisions and factions than on their constituents\u2019\naspirations. This condition, according to Bilal, has the potential to\nweaken the accountability of representatives while opening space for the\ninfluence of interest groups in the policy-making process. \u2018Criticism of\nstate policy must be seen as part of the democratic control mechanism,\nnot as a threat to be met with intimidation or the excessive use of\nlegal instruments,\u2019 he said.<\/p>\n
The discussion also covered other challenges, including money\npolitics, identity politics, the influence of social media, and\noligarchic dominance. Forum participants agreed that political and\nconstitutional education must be carried out continuously from an early\nage and adapted to technological developments and societal\ncharacteristics. Regarding potential amendments to the 1945\nConstitution, the speakers viewed that constitutional change is not\nalways the first answer to democratic problems. Many issues can still be\nresolved through legislative improvements, strengthening political party\ninstitutions, consistent law enforcement, and governance reforms.\nHowever, if constitutional amendments are deemed necessary, the process\nmust be based on clear needs, comprehensive academic studies, and public\nparticipation.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/mpr-study-group-peoples-sovereignty-must-extend-beyond-elections-in-indonesias-democracy-1784105789", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }