Law Enforcement Seen as a Reflection of Democratic Quality

The supremacy of law must remain the foundation of national life, as only a power that submits to the constitution, ethics, and justice can maintain the state’s legitimacy in the eyes of the people. This was conveyed by legal and political observer Pieter C. Zulkifli. He stressed that law enforcement is not merely a matter of implementing rules, but rather a reflection of the quality of democracy and the direction of a nation’s journey. When the law is perceived to have lost its independence, what is at stake is not only the sense of justice but also public trust in the state. “A state of law is not tested when everything runs normally, but when power has the opportunity to overstep its bounds, yet chooses to remain subject to the constitution and justice. ‘Justice is the first virtue of social institutions’,” Pieter said in his statement on Saturday, 27 June 2026. Pieter stated that justice is the first virtue of every social institution. He then referred to political philosopher John Rawls, who warned that when justice shifts to become merely a tool of interest, the state slowly loses its moral foundation. “The law may still stand, but the people’s trust collapses,” he said. According to him, Indonesia has long understood that economic progress cannot be separated from the quality of law enforcement. Investors come not only because of abundant natural resources or a large market, but because of legal certainty. “The business world requires clear rules, fair treatment, and a guarantee that the law does not change according to the direction of the political wind,” he said. Unfortunately, Pieter noted, a growing unease has emerged recently. Amid economic conditions that have not fully recovered, the public faces continuously rising prices of basic necessities while purchasing power weakens. Many business actors complain of declining revenues. Industry faces heavy pressure. The budget deficit continues to swell, while financing through debt only serves as a short-term solution that does not touch the root of the problem. In such a situation, the government should focus its energy on strategic agendas: strengthening the investment climate, increasing national productivity, improving the quality of human resources, and building legal certainty. It is precisely here that the state is tested. “A leader is not judged by the number of programmes launched, but by their ability to determine the right priorities,” he said.