The biggest challenge Indonesians faced in the 2019 presidential and legislative elections is the warlike logic and narrative dominating a contest that should have been a people’s celebration, spreading joy to all. The myriad unfortunate words that were spread on social media, including the Battle of Badr, total war and ideological war, created a lasting bad impression in people’s minds. In addition, threatening speeches were no less powerful, from the threat of “people’s power” (mobilizing the masses) and riots if the election was not fair, or in the event of defeat in the political competition (Ahmad Najib Burhani, Kompas, 04/16/2019).
However, as it turned out, the 2019 election proceeded relatively smoothly from the close of voting to the start of the vote tabulation. The ripples seen in several places remain under control. A relatively orderly and peaceful election is the beginning of victory for all Indonesians against the scary and frightening threats above. This phenomenon also means that Indonesia still emerges victorious in vicious fights filled with waves of primordial hate. Indonesians have not succumbed to these threats.
Indonesia’s victory is made more meaningful, as the quick count of several polling agencies have indicated that Joko Widodo-Ma’ruf Amin has won 54 percent of votes while Prabowo Subianto-Sandiaga Uno has won 45 percent of votes, with a voter turnout of around 80 percent. This aggregate of the people’s votes shows that in this contest between Pancasila nationalism and primordial conservatism, they still prefer the former.
Further victory can be seen in the people’s level of satisfaction with the current administration. This means that the people prefer a candidate with a proven track record of hard work. Indonesians have made their choice with their conscience, instead of their emotions.
Another victory is that Indonesians have successfully freed themselves from the threat of populist politics and post-truth ideology. This global phenomenon has ruined countries that were considered to be established democracies, like the victory of Donald Trump in the 2016 US election and Brexit. These problems still remain unresolved today.
Indonesians also claimed another victory against hoaxes and fake news that were consciously, deliberately and systematically planned and designed with care to deceive the people. Fake news is cruel in its use of primordial sentiments that play on people’s primitive emotions and reactions. The people have successfully overcome fake news that could destroy the country.
Another significant victory for Indonesia was reflected in Prabowo’s harsh speech, delivered at around 6 p.m. on Wednesday (4/17), in which he lambasted several pollsters he claimed were trying to manipulate election results. He also urged his supporters not to resort to anarchism and to adhere to the law.
These victories for Indonesia must be used as an impetus to reorganize state institutions to develop an effective and democratic government. From this perspective, legal politics on election regulations, the political party system, legislative bodies, regional autonomy and other laws concerning state administration must follow a clear paradigm to ensure regulatory cohesion and harmony.
Another agenda of no less importance is political education. This is highly urgent, as threats from small conservative streams are spreading through the veins of the nation-state. If this is neglected, the small, yet militant stream will become difficult to counter.
The biggest capital is Indonesia’s efforts in building its spirit of solidarity. Looking back, the threats to our spirit of “Unity in Diversity” began with the 2014 general election, grew larger during the 2017 Jakarta gubernatorial election, and reached its boiling point at this year’s general election. However, Indonesia has remained as one. Another capital is the nation’s capacity to endure minor sacrifices in following a leader’s example of living modestly. It must be acknowledged that some in the private sector are sometimes frustrated by government policies, as in taxation. However, because the people are certain that these policies will help fix the country, they support them willingly.
An election is essentially a manifestation of the people’s sovereignty. The universal and fundamental theory is that, no matter who wins, the victory belongs to all Indonesians. The people, as the majority shareholders of sovereignty, must be presented with state policies that can realize happiness for all, as the Constitution mandates.
J KRISTIADI,Senior Researcher, Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS)