Political Institutional Reconstruction Following the 2025 Protests Demanding the Dissolution of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI): Institutional Crisis and Civil Resistance

Hendri Suwarsono (Universitas Swadaya Gunung Jati)

Journal of Political and Governance Studies
Vol. 2 No. 3 (2026): Juli 2026

Background The large-scale protests demanding the dissolution of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR) in 2025 reflected a severe decline in public trust and exposed weaknesses in legislative accountability, budget transparency, and political representation. The protests pressured political elites to replace key officials, suspend several legislators, and cancel a proposed increase in parliamentary allowances. This study examines how the crisis prompted political institutional reconstruction and assesses the role of civil society in shaping institutional change. Methods This study employed a descriptive qualitative approach based on a literature review of academic publications, official documents, and credible media reports. The data were analyzed by identifying patterns of institutional response, political adjustment, and civil resistance during and after the protests. Results The findings show that the rotation of the leadership of Commission III, the suspension of several legislators, and the cancellation of the allowance increase were reactive measures designed primarily to contain public pressure and prevent further escalation. Although these measures contributed to short-term political stabilization, they did not address the structural causes of public distrust, particularly weak legislative accountability, limited budget transparency, inadequate political representation, and ineffective public oversight. This study contributes to the literature by distinguishing crisis containment from substantive institutional reconstruction. It demonstrates that concessions made by political elites under civic pressure can produce the appearance of reform without transforming the institutional practices that generated the crisis. Conclusions The 2025 protests expanded civil society participation beyond electoral channels and showed its capacity to influence legislative and party decisions. Genuine reconstruction, however, requires sustained civic engagement, stronger public oversight, and a firm commitment from political parties and the government to structural reform.