Dominated by Old Faces, DPR Performance 2024-2029 Will Not Change

Seeing this phenomenon, researcher at the Indonesian Parliament Concerned Community Forum (Formappi), Lucius Karus, predicts that the performance of the 2024-2029 DPR will not be much different from the 2019-2024 period. Apart from performing poorly, in the future the DPR will also still be a "rubber stamp" for government programs and policies because the majority of seats are controlled by political parties supporting the rulers.

"With so many incumbents, the system of reward and punishment does not apply, the poor performance of the 2019-2024 DPR should be directly proportional to the punishment given by voters by not voting for them," he said when contacted from Jakarta, Friday (26/4/2024).

In carrying out its duties, the DPR (House of Representatives) has three functions: oversight, legislation or the drafting of laws, and budgeting. So far, Formappi has captured the DPR's performance in carrying out these three functions is still not optimal. In terms of oversight, for example, the DPR tends to act as a "rubber stamp" for government programs and policies.

The same goes for carrying out legislative functions, the DPR is judged to tend to approve regulations proposed by the government. Not only that, the DPR almost never meets the legislative target already set in the National Legislative Program (Prolegnas).

The performance of the DPR (Indonesian Parliament) from 2024-2029 will not be significantly different from the 2019-2024 period. In addition to performing poorly, the DPR will still act as a mere rubber stamp for government programs and policies.

Throughout the year 2023, for example, the DPR only managed to complete the discussion of five priority bills. However, the DPR targeted the discussion of 42 priority bills in the Prolegnas 2023. In addition, over a period of four years, from 2020 to 2023, the DPR only managed to pass 25 bills into law.

Can't hope for it

The incumbent's success in returning to the DPR cannot be separated from the large number of candidates and political parties participating in the election. The public tends to choose candidates they have known for a long time. Moreover, incumbents have advantages in funding, absorbing aspirations, and so on.

In theory, changes and improvements to the performance of the parliament can occur with the presence of new legislative members because they are expected to bring new ideas and fresher spirit. However, it is estimated that the attitude of the new members of parliament will not be much different from the political parties that support them.

Also read: Old Faces Will Dominate Parliament

"The public only hopes that the presence of new members of the DPR with competence and capacity can provide slightly different color. For example, in the discussion of draft laws, budgets, and oversight," said Lucius.

Nevertheless, Lucius cannot hope for much improvement from new members of the DPR because they too are bound by the attitudes of their supporting political parties. The current situation, where political parties supporting the elected president and vice president pair, Prabowo Subianto-Gibran Rakabuming Raka, dominate the majority of parliamentary seats.

Referring to Kompas R&D data, the Advanced Indonesia Coalition, supporting Prabowo-Gibran, which consists of the Gerindra Party, Golkar Party, National Mandate Party (PAN) and the Democratic Party, has 280 seats in the DPR. However, if you add the National Awakening Party (PKB) and the Nasdem Party, they control 417 out of 580, around 71.89 percent of parliamentary seats.

"The truth is that improvements can occur when the seats in the parliament are controlled by the opposition or at least balanced. Only then can there be hope. However, with so many incumbents, even if the competence of the new parliament members is good, it still cannot be achieved. The quality of their backgrounds is generally powerless against the will of political parties," he said.

Nonetheless, several new faces of legislative candidates remain determined to improve the image and performance of the DPR (the Indonesian parliament) in the future. One of them is Ahmad Irawan, the elected candidate from Golkar Party in East Java V electoral district. With lobbying skills and a background in ideology, academics, and experience, Irawan will strive to carry out all three functions of the DPR well.

Also read: Experience and Constituent Base Increase Percentage of Incumbents Returning to DPR

"Improving and enhancing the performance of the Parliament cannot be judged by the number of incumbents or non-incumbents, but rather by the ability to influence and convince institutions in political parties, factions, and the Parliament itself," he said.

In the Golkar Party organization, according to Irawan, many are seeking to improve from within. With improved performance, at least the improvement of the DPR institution can be driven, especially through the party's legislative members.