ANALISIS PUTUSAN MAHKAMAH KONSTITUSI NOMOR 55/PUU-XVII/2019 TENTANG SISTEM PROPORSIONAL TERBUKA DALAM PEMILU

Abstract

The Constitutional Court’s Decision Number 55/PUU-XVII/2019 has become a significant milestone in the development of Indonesia’s electoral system. This case reviewed the constitutionality of Article 168 paragraph (2) of Law Number 7 of 2017 concerning Elections, which stipulates the use of an open-list proportional representation system. The petitioners argued that this system fosters high political costs, strengthens money politics, and diminishes the institutional role of political parties. This research aims to analyze the Court’s legal reasoning and evaluate the implications of the decision on Indonesia’s democratic consolidation. This study employs a normative juridical method with a qualitative approach, using primary legal sources such as the Constitution, the Election Law, and the Court’s decision, complemented by secondary literature. The findings show that the Court reaffirmed the principle of popular sovereignty, transparency, and accountability by rejecting the petition. However, challenges remain in addressing structural weaknesses, particularly in party institutionalization and the prevention of money politics. The study emphasizes that stronger political education, stricter regulations on campaign financing, and reinforcement of party cadre systems are necessary to ensure that the open-list proportional system truly strengthens Indonesian democracy.