Democracy: Between Political Rights and Quality of Representation

Some parties may argue that adding a minimum education requirement will limit the political rights of citizens, in line with the considerations of the Constitutional Court (MK) which rejected a similar proposal for presidential/vice-presidential candidates. Of course, that argument is entirely correct. Democracy must guarantee that everyone has the right to be elected and to vote. However, democracy should not be interpreted rigidly. Democracy is not just about inclusiveness, but also about quality. What is the point of giving the right to be elected absolutely if in the end the elected representative is unable to carry out his duties properly? The minimum education requirement should not be seen as discrimination, but as a mechanism to maintain the quality of democracy. Just as doctors must pursue medical education or lawyers must master the law, members of the DPR should also be required to have adequate academic qualifications for their complex tasks.

Maintaining the Dignity of Democracy

Encouraging a minimum education requirement for prospective members of the DPR is not a step to close political access for the common people. On the contrary, this is an effort to maintain the dignity of democracy so that parliament is filled by figures who are able to think clearly, analyze data, and formulate real solutions. Without this standard, the DPR is vulnerable to becoming an arena for political transactions, where financial capital outweighs intellectual competence. As a result, parliament is filled by politicians who are good at maneuvering power, but unable to read the problems of the people. This condition is what triggers great disappointment. Every shallow statement from a member of the council makes the public feel that their collective self-esteem is being violated. It is the accumulation of this disappointment that finally sparked the massive demonstrations yesterday—a loud alarm that shows the gap between the increasingly intelligent people and their representatives who are lagging behind. Political rights are indeed fundamental, but the people's right to get quality representation is no less important. It's time for us to dare to raise the standards. Setting a bachelor's degree as a minimum requirement is not a restriction, but a responsibility to ensure that our democracy runs with dignity and is filled by people who are truly capable of carrying out the great mandate of the people.