The history of democracy in Indonesia reached a critical turning point with the issuance of two major edicts by Vice President Mohammad Hatta in 1945. These documents shifted the nation from a centralized presidential system toward a multi-party, representative democracy. 1. The Legislative Shift: Maklumat No. X (October 16, 1945)
Issued just months after independence, fundamentally changed the role of the Central National Indonesian Committee (KNIP).
: The government expressed its support for the creation of political parties to channel various societal ideologies into an organized political structure.
: This move was intended to prevent the concentration of absolute power in the hands of the President, laying the groundwork for a system of checks and balances. 2. The Birth of Political Parties: Maklumat 3 November 1945
: The edict explicitly stated that these parties should be formed in preparation for a general election, which was originally planned for January 1946.
: Previously, the KNIP only assisted the President. This edict granted them legislative powers and the authority to help determine the Broad Guidelines of State Policy (GBHN) until the MPR and DPR could be officially formed.
: By allowing multiple parties, Indonesia transitioned into what would become the Parliamentary (Liberal) Democracy era, where the executive branch became responsible to the parliament rather than just the President.
