By: Naufal Putra Bratajaya )*
Indonesian democracy has developed rapidly since the reform era, and under the leadership of the seventh President of the Republic of Indonesia, Joko Widodo (Jokowi), the balance between political stability and civil liberties is increasingly visible.
The man born in 1961 brought a new approach to governance that is more inclusive and development-oriented. Since taking office in 2014, Jokowi has steered Indonesia on a path of mature and dynamic democracy.
One of the important achievements is his success in maintaining political stability. Amid global and domestic challenges, including the threat of terrorism, political tensions, and the pandemic, the government under his leadership was able to maintain national stability.
In the political context, President Jokowi has successfully navigated a grand coalition without neglecting the role of the opposition as part of a healthy democracy. His pragmatic approach in embracing various political parties has created conditions conducive to economic growth and national development.
However, this stability was not achieved at the expense of civil liberties. As a national leader, President Jokowi respects the basic principles of democracy, including freedom of speech and human rights.
The policies it implements attempt to strike a balance between public freedom and social order. This is evident in the handling of demonstrations and protests, where the government attempts to maintain security without restricting the public’s right to express their opinions.
On the other hand, press freedom has also been maintained during his leadership. The mass media still plays an important role as a pillar of democracy, despite the challenges of hoaxes and disinformation. In this regard, President Jokowi has prioritized a digital literacy-based approach, including the launch of various educational programs related to media literacy and the wise use of technology.
The government through the Minister of Communication and Informatics (Menkominfo) Budi Arie Setiadi continues to guarantee space for freedom of opinion and expression. This is also in line with the state’s obligation to maintain and guarantee freedom of opinion and expression for the community.
In a democratic country, criticism is one part of freedom of speech that can make democracy healthy. The principle will be healthy because of criticism.
The government under President Joko Widodo has a very strong commitment to never curb freedom of speech. Even so, in expressing opinions, especially on social media or the digital world, the public should be able to distinguish between criticism, slander or even hoaxes. Slander itself means an issue that turns out to have no data at all.
Meanwhile, Presidential Chief of Staff Moeldoko stated that the government continues to strive to manage the balance between stability and democracy related to the freedom of expression index in Indonesia.
The government continues to strive to manage stability with democracy because on the one hand the demands for democracy are extraordinary, especially with the extraordinary growth of the media.
There are still a handful of irresponsible parties who spread provocative narratives that seem to be very strict in the era of President Jokowi’s leadership. In fact, this is not the case at all, because the government is trying to balance stability with freedom.
President Jokowi has several times directly received Kamisan actions and invited other stakeholders such as the Attorney General and the Minister of Law and Human Rights. These actions indicate that President Joko Widodo wants to solve the problem with a good approach.
The national leader who was born in Surakarta City also has a strong commitment to massive infrastructure development throughout Indonesia, which aims to strengthen the economy and reduce regional disparities.
The development of equitable infrastructure, from toll roads, ports, to airports, has a significant impact on people’s mobility and economy. This step also strengthens national ties and supports Papua’s integration into national development, which ultimately strengthens social and political stability in the region.
In the legal sector, the Jokowi administration has prioritized legal reform and eradicating corruption. Although the challenges in this area are still great, efforts to strengthen legal institutions remain one of the government’s main agendas.
The legal reforms proposed by the Head of State aim to create equal justice for all citizens, as well as strengthen the supremacy of law as the main foundation of democracy.
President Jokowi’s leadership has shown that democracy does not have to be faced with a choice between stability and freedom. The nation’s leader, who has been in office since 2014, has been able to create a balance that supports both.
With an inclusive, pragmatic, and development-focused approach, Jokowi has managed to maintain Indonesia’s political stability while ensuring that civil liberties are respected. Amidst all the challenges faced, Indonesian democracy continues to grow and develop under the leadership of this man born in 1961.
)* Analyst at Core Media Institute
