Reforming the position of the coalition and opposition in the Indonesian constitutional system
Muhamad Khairun Kurniawan Kadir, Mohamad Hidayat Muhtar, Julius T. Mandjo, Sofyan Piyo, Fitran Amrain & Janwar Hippy
Abstract
This study seeks to evaluate the roles of the coalition and opposition within the Indonesian constitutional framework as established by the 1945 Constitution, and to investigate the impact of political dynamics between the two on the efficacy of legislative supervision of the executive branch. In Indonesia's multiparty presidential system, the presence of a dominating coalition and a feeble opposition poses significant obstacles to upholding the notion of checks and balances. This study employs a normative legal research method using a normative descriptive approach to delineate the notion and status of coalition and opposition, alongside a juridical-analytical methodology to assess the legal and practical impediments impacting the efficacy of legislative oversight. Primary legal documents, including the 1945 Constitution, pertinent laws, and Constitutional Court rulings, are utilized in conjunction with secondary legal materials such as scholarly literature and comparative analyses of political systems in other nations. The findings indicated that while the 1945 Constitution did not expressly delineate the structure and function of coalitions and oppositions, political practice in Indonesia revealed a tendency for coalitions to prevail, whilst oppositions were frequently disjointed and less efficacious. This undermines the parliamentary scrutiny of executive policy, which frequently serves just as a formality. The formal regulation of the opposition's role, the enhancement of legislative ability, and the streamlining of the election system are the principal recommendations to enhance this political dynamic. The study's conclusion affirms the necessity of political and legal reforms to guarantee that democracy in Indonesia adheres to the principles of popular sovereignty and governmental accountability.
Keywords
coalition, opposition, checks and balances, law
Author information & Contribution
Muhamad Khairun Kurniawan Kadir. Corresponding author. Faculty of Law, Universitas Negeri Gorontalo. Email: herukurniawan@ung.ac.id
Mohamad Hidayat Muhtar. Faculty of Law, Universitas Negeri Gorontalo, Indonesia.
Julius T. Mandjo. Faculty of Law, Universitas Negeri Gorontalo, Indonesia.
Sofyan Piyo. Faculty of Law, Universitas Negeri Gorontalo, Indonesia.
Fitran Amrain. Faculty of Law, Universitas Negeri Gorontalo, Indonesia.
Janwar Hippy. Faculty of Law, Universitas Negeri Gorontalo, Indonesia.
Mohamad Khairun Kurniawan Kadir contributed to data acquisition, analysis, and interpretation of research findings. Mohamad Hidayat Muhtar was responsible for conceptualizing the study and critically reviewing the manuscript for significant intellectual content. Julius T. Mandjo played a role in drafting the initial manuscript and analyzing data related to Indonesia's constitutional system. Sofyan Piyo contributed to the formulation of the research methodology and the final editing before publication. Fitran Amrain was involved in the comprehensive revision of the manuscript and its alignment with academic standards. Janwar Hippy participated in the literature review and the formulation of recommendations in this study.
All authors approved the publication of this manuscript and take full responsibility for the accuracy and integrity of the research, ensuring that any related issues are appropriately investigated and resolved.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).
Funding
This work was not supported by any funding.
Institutional Review Board Statement
Not applicable
Data and Materials Availability
AI Declaration
The author declares the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in writing this paper. In particular, the author used Quillbot and ChatGPT for paraphrasing content. The author takes full responsibility in ensuring proper review and editing of contents generated using AI.
Notes
Acknowledgement
References
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Cite this article:
Kadir, M.K.K., Muhtar, M.H., Mandjo, J.T., Piyo, S., Amrain, F. & Hippy, J. (2025). Reforming the position of the coalition and opposition in the Indonesian constitutional system. International Review of Social Sciences Research, 5(1), 248-268. https://doi.org/10.53378/irssr.353159
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