Yusril: Democracy Requires More Than Just Political Procedures
The Coordinating Minister for Law, Human Rights, Immigration, and Correctional Affairs, Yusril Ihza Mahendra, has asserted that democracy cannot be sustained through political procedures alone, but must be underpinned by the supremacy of law, ethics, and maturity in managing differences.
“We cannot impose our will on others even if we are in the majority; we must formulate things with good words and good methods. Language reflects a nation; good language reflects a good nation,” he stated in a briefing confirmed in Jakarta on Wednesday.
This emphasis was delivered during a national oration and the inauguration of the Centre for Constitutional and Democracy Studies (PUSAKARD) at the University of PGRI Kanjuruhan Malang, East Java, on Tuesday.
Yusril noted that law and politics are closely intertwined in statehood. According to Yusril, a state governed by law and democracy must function in tandem. Power must be subject to the law, while democracy must be conducted with honesty, responsibility, and respect for human values.
He also warned that the development of technology and artificial intelligence must remain guided by ethical values, as progress without a moral foundation can lose its humanitarian purpose.
Furthermore, Yusril stated that local wisdom and national culture should serve as sources of value in the development of national law. However, he added that national law must continue to reflect the nation’s identity within the framework of a democratic rule of law.
“Our law in the future must be in line with the soul and spirit of our own nation, within a democratic context,” he said.
Addressing students, Yusril advised that when they enter politics or other professions, they should prioritise the interests of the public and produce policies that benefit future generations.
“Most importantly, the strategic territories and extraordinary natural wealth we possess have not yet been fully utilised. We must transform the face of our education,” he concluded.