Legal Politics of Constitutional Complaint: Prospects for Implementation of the Indonesian Legal System

Authors

  • Agnes Fitryantica IBLAM School of Law, Indonesia
  • Lita Tyesta Addy Listya Wardani Universitas Diponegoro, Indonesia
  • Ratna Herawati Universitas Diponegoro, Indonesia
  • Roqiyul Maarif Syam Kent Law School, University of Kent, United Kingdom

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.30863/al-bayyinah.v10i1.11386

Keywords:

Legal Politics; Constitutional Complaint; Prospects; Legal System

Abstract

The concept of constitutional complaints is becoming increasingly crucial in the protection of fundamental rights. In Indonesia, the authority of the Constitutional Court (MK) is currently limited to reviewing laws, resolving election disputes, dissolving political parties, and resolving disputes over the jurisdiction of state institutions. Consequently, there is a legal vacuum in protecting the rights of citizens violated by actual acts or omissions of state officials that are not related to the constitutionality of laws. This article examines the legal politics behind the absence of constitutional complaints in Indonesia as well as the prospects for their implementation. Using a normative legal approach and comparative analysis with Germany, South Korea, and Thailand, this study explores the role of this instrument in safeguarding citizens’ rights, preventing abuse of power, and strengthening judicial independence. The research findings indicate that the adoption of constitutional complaints in Indonesia would expand access to justice, align the legal system with international human rights standards, and affirm the Constitutional Court’s role as the guardian of the constitution. Nevertheless, challenges such as political resistance, the risk of a surge in caseload, and institutional readiness must be addressed through careful design. The constitutional complaint is not merely a prospective legal reform but a constitutional necessity to realize a democratic, participatory, rights-based state and to strengthen public confidence in the rule of law.

Author Biography

Lita Tyesta Addy Listya Wardani, Universitas Diponegoro

The discourse on the constitutional complaint as a legal remedy has gained increasing significance in the contemporary debate on constitutional justice, particularly in countries that seek to ensure the effective protection of fundamental rights. In the Indonesian context, the current constitutional review mechanism under the authority of the Constitutional Court is limited to judicial review of laws against the Constitution, adjudication of electoral disputes, dissolution of political parties, and the resolution of disputes over the authority of state institutions. However, there remains a critical gap in guaranteeing the direct protection of constitutional rights for individuals when those rights are violated by state actions or omissions that do not necessarily involve the constitutionality of legislation. This article aims to examine the legal politics behind the absence of constitutional complaint in Indonesia and to assess the prospects for its implementation within the existing legal framework. By employing a normative juridical approach and comparative analysis of selected jurisdictions such as Germany, South Korea, and Thailand, this article explores how constitutional complaint functions as a vital instrument to safeguard citizens’ rights, prevent abuse of power, and strengthen judicial independence. The findings suggest that the adoption of a constitutional complaint mechanism in Indonesia could significantly improve access to justice, harmonize the Indonesian legal system with international standards of human rights protection, and enhance the Constitutional Court’s role as the guardian of the Constitution. Nonetheless, several challenges must be addressed, including political resistance, the risk of excessive caseload, and the need for institutional readiness to accommodate a new procedural framework. In conclusion, the constitutional complaint represents not only a prospective reform in Indonesian legal politics but also a constitutional necessity to realize a more democratic, participatory, and rights-oriented state structure. Its implementation, if carefully designed, would not only align with Indonesia’s constitutional mandate to uphold human rights but also strengthen public trust in the rule of law and the legitimacy of the constitutional judiciary.

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Published

2026-06-01

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Vol. 10 No. 1 (2026): Al-Bayyinah

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Copyright (c) 2026 Agnes Fitryantica, Lita Tyesta Addy Listya Wardani, Ratna Herawati, Roqiyul Maarif Syam

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