Push for Evaluation of Constitutional Implementation to Achieve Social Justice
The commemoration of National Constitution Day must become a momentum for evaluating and improving policies in the management of national development.
“This year’s Constitution Day must serve as a reminder for all elements of the nation of the importance of the legal foundation that has led Indonesia to become a free and sovereign country,” said Deputy Speaker of the People’s Consultative Assembly (MPR) Lestari Moerdijat in a written statement on Tuesday (18/8), in commemoration of National Constitution Day every 18 August.
According to Lestari, the ratification of the 1945 Constitution of the Republic of Indonesia by the Preparatory Committee for Indonesian Independence (PPKI) on 18 August 1945 was a historical milestone that laid the foundation for the administration of the state.
Rerie, as Lestari is affectionately known, argued that at the 81st year of independence, the theme of a Sovereign, Just, and Prosperous Indonesia promoted by the government is in line with the ideals of the constitution.
However, Rerie said, its implementation on the ground still faces serious challenges.
Based on the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) report for 2026, Indonesia’s Democracy Index score has continued to decline over the past four years, from 6.71 in 2022 to 6.37 in 2025, leaving Indonesia still in the flawed democracy category.
A similar finding was also expressed in a report by the V-Dem Institute, which places Indonesia in the electoral autocracy category and indicates that elections are not fully fair and that the political playing field is unequal.
“This is an alarm for all of us. Our constitution guarantees protection for all citizens and mandates social justice. However, the data shows that our democratic space is actually narrowing,” said the member of the NasDem Party’s High Council.
Rerie urged that the reconstruction of the constitutional design continue to be promoted to ensure that the presidential system with checks and balances mechanisms truly comes alive in practice.
“We must ensure that existing policies genuinely help the state deliver social justice for all the people, and that the fruits of development can be enjoyed by all levels of society,” stressed the legislator from Electoral District II of Central Java.
In addition, explained Rerie, who is also a member of Commission X of the House of Representatives (DPR), the public must continue to be educated about their constitutional rights and obligations, and encouraged to participate actively in overseeing the running of the government.
Amidst the various challenges in national and state life, Rerie also reminded of the importance of maintaining the spirit of nationhood above all differences.
“Indonesia was founded not because we are all the same, but because we all agreed to choose to share the same ‘home’. Our constitution is a guarantee for all the nation’s children to live in harmony within the framework of the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia,” concluded Rerie.