Yusril states that elections must safeguard public trust and legitimacy
Denpasar (ANTARA) - Coordinating Minister for Law, Human Rights, Immigration, and Corrections Yusril Ihza Mahendra has stressed that elections are not merely about procedures but also about maintaining public trust and the legitimacy of the state.
He made this statement while serving as a speaker at a public lecture at the Faculty of Law, Udayana University in Denpasar, Bali, on Tuesday.
In the public lecture, facilitated by moderator and expert in constitutional law from Udayana University Jimmy Z. Usfunan, with the theme “Structuring the Organisation of General Elections and Its Regulations from the Perspective of a Democratic Rule of Law State”, Yusril explained that elections are a central issue in democracy because they relate to how the state provides a fair space for the people to channel their aspirations without diminishing the state’s capacity to act.
He said that in a diverse society like Indonesia, elections are not just about vote counts but also serve as a means for society to place hopes in the nation’s future.
“People come to polling stations not only to vote but also to place their hopes that their voices will be counted, announced, and respected,” he stated.
Yusril assessed that the main challenge of modern democracy is the tendency to overemphasise procedural aspects, while substantive aspects, particularly justice, are often neglected.
He explained that formally, elections can run smoothly through predetermined stages, but this does not necessarily address fundamental questions in society regarding the transparency and fairness of the process.
According to him, the public will continue to question whether the election process is honest, whether all participants have equal opportunities, and whether the law is enforced fairly.
Yusril emphasised that a democratic rule of law state must not only be able to organise elections but also ensure that their results have legitimacy in the eyes of the people.
“Without legitimacy, democracy will be fragile, and election results will continue to be questioned, potentially leading to a crisis of trust,” he said.
He stated that the quality of elections ultimately reflects the quality of the state itself, thus requiring fair, rational regulations that are not subject to narrow interests.
Furthermore, the organisation of elections is viewed not solely as a legal matter but as a political and moral responsibility in maintaining the relationship between the state and society.
Yusril said that democracy must be a healthy mechanism for managing differences, not merely a tool for legitimising power.
In the context of national policy, he noted that elections are closely linked to various aspects, from the quality of legislation and legal certainty to the protection of civil rights, government stability, and the investment climate.
He assessed that high-quality elections will strengthen state legitimacy, while problematic elections can trigger polarisation and reduce public trust in democracy.
Therefore, he believes Indonesia is currently at an important juncture to carry out election law reforms to improve the quality of democracy moving forward.
Yusril also highlighted the momentum for revising the Election Law, which has been included in the 2026 Priority National Legislation Programme, as a crucial opportunity for comprehensive improvements.
“Election law reform must not be done partially. We need a coherent and long-term design to address the challenges of modern democracy,” he said.