With an open list system, our direct, free, general, secret, honest, and fair election principles could be realized. Moreover, the democratic principle of the people, by the people, for the people, could also be realized

Jakarta People’s Consultative Assembly (MPR RI) Deputy Speaker Yandri Susanto opined that the open list proportional representation system in Indonesian elections should not be changed, as it ensures the people’s will could be reflected in elections.

“With an open list system, our direct, free, general, secret, honest, and fair election principles could be realized. Moreover, the democratic principle of the people, by the people, for the people, could also be realized,” Susanto said in a statement here, Friday.

The deputy speaker made the remarks in response to General Elections Commission (KPU RI) Chairperson Hasyim Asy’ari’s statement on Thursday (December 29) speculating that the electoral system for the 2024 General Elections could be changed to closed-list proportional representation.

Susanto remarked that the open-list representation is democratic and fair for the people while emphasizing that it should be preserved. On the contrary, the closed-list system will deny people the right to select their preferred candidate directly.

“(Open list) system allows people to vote for their preferred candidate. If they are allowed only to vote for the party logo or number, it will be buying the pig in a poke,” the deputy speaker pointed out.

Susanto remarked that in 2012, the Constitutional Court, under the leadership of then-Chief Justice Mahfud MD, had decided that elected legislative candidates are those who get the highest vote, hence, affirming the open list proportional representation.

“The decision annulled Article 124 section a, b, c, d, e of the Electoral Law at that time. Those (annulled) articles determined that legislative candidates are elected based on their order in the party list. We will stick firm to the court’s decision,” Susanto remarked.

The 2012 Constitutional Court decision must be maintained and preserved, and efforts to overturn the decision would be undemocratic, he stressed.

“We are advancing to the right step to democracy, and we must not step back even for a bit,” the deputy speaker affirmed.

Susanto also urged the KPU to focus on preparing for the 2024 General Elections instead of speculating about changes in the election system that will trigger public criticism.

Source: Antara News