THE DUALISM OF EXECUTIVE PREROGATIVE: A JURIDICO-POLITICAL ANALYSIS OF ABOLITION
(Case Study: Abolition Granted to Tom Lembong)
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.24002/dlc.v3i2.12711Keywords:
Abolition, Presidential Prerogative, DPR Consideration, Legal Realism, Tom LembongAbstract
The President's granting of abolition is a complex legal and political instrument. Juridically, abolition is a prerogative right regulated by Article 14 Paragraph (2) of the 1945 Constitution and Emergency Law No. 11 of 1954. It functions as a mechanism to stop ongoing criminal proceedings, returning the individual to their original legal status. The problem arises in the tension between this ideal legal function and the political reality of its application. This study examines this gap by analyzing the granting of abolition to Tom Lembong, a decision that sparked public controversy and raised questions about the political motivations behind a legal act. Lembong, a former Minister of Trade, had been sentenced at first instance in a sugar-import corruption case, but the judgment was not yet final. The abolition stopped this prosecution before it reached a final and binding court decision. The analysis shows that the abolition was procedurally valid, since the case was not yet final and the DPR’s consideration was obtained, but that this consideration worked as a fast formal checkpoint rather than a substantive check. The reasons stated officially (national unity and the beneficiaries’ contributions) are documented, whereas further motives such as elite loyalty and alliance-building are presented as analytical interpretations, not established facts. The study concludes that procedural validity alone does not protect the prerogative from selective use, and that in Indonesia’s constitutional system law and politics are not always separate.References
Books
Laksito, Joni, Yurisprudensi, ed. Agus Wibowo, Semarang, 2023.
Wibowo, Agus, Negara Hukum Administrasi, 2025.
Journal Articles
Aflah, Muhammad Hilmi Naufal, and Arif Hidayat, “Dominant Coalition Sebagai Strategi Penyederhanaan Partai Politik Dalam Perspektif Penguatan Sistem Presidensiil,” Puskapsi Law Review 5, no. 1 (2025): 155–179, https://doi.org/10.19184/puskapsi.v5i1.53743.
Angelosanto, Matthew, “Legal Realism and the Predictability of Judicial Decisions,” Interdisciplinary Studies in Society, Law, and Politics 2, no. 3 (2023): 4–14, https://doi.org/10.61838/kman.isslp.2.3.2.
Arifuddin, Ilham Fathir, and Hudi Yusuf, “Kontroversi Pemberian Abolisi dalam Kasus Korupsi Impor Gula: Analisis Kriminologi terhadap Penegakan Hukum dan Ketimpangan Keadilan,” JICN: Jurnal Intelek dan Cendikiawan Nusantara 2, no. 4 (2025): 4729–4735.
Avelino, Flor, “Theories of Power and Social Change: Power Contestations and Their Implications for Research on Social Change and Innovation,” Journal of Political Power 14, no. 3 (2021): 425–448, https://doi.org/10.1080/2158379X.2021.1875307.
Badu, Lisnawaty W., and Ahmad, “Purifikasi Pemberian Amnesti dan Abolisi: Suatu Ikhtiar Penyempurnaan Undang-Undang Dasar 1945,” Ius Civile: Refleksi Penegakan Hukum dan Keadilan 5, no. 2 (2021): 93–111, https://doi.org/10.35308/jic.v5i2.2547.
Cornelius, Conrado M., “Menafsirkan Pancasila: Wewenang Pemerintah atau Peran Warga Negara? Suatu Telaah dari Perspektif Hermeneutika Kritis Habermasian,” Mimbar Hukum 33, no. 2 (2021): 320–345, https://doi.org/10.22146/mh.v33i2.2299.
Deliyanto, Moh., “Pergeseran Kekuasaan Presiden dalam Sistem Ketatanegaraan Republik Indonesia dalam Perspektif Sosial, Politik dan Hukum,” Journal Syntax Idea 7, no. 6 (2025):
837–854, https://doi.org/10.46799/syntaxidea.v7i6.13114.
Dewi, Kintan Farhayanti, Gede Sumerta, and Eri Hidayat, “Potensi Konflik antara Pemerintah Provinsi Aceh dan Pemerintah Pusat Republik Indonesia terhadap Implementasi Memorandum of Understanding Helsinki dalam Perspektif Amnesti Internasional,” Jurnal Education and Development 10, no. 1 (2022): 1–7, https://doi.org/10.37081/ed.v10i1.3215.
Fauzi, Suyogi Imam, “Politik Hukum Pemberian Grasi, Amnesti dan Abolisi sebagai Konsekuensi Logis Hak Prerogatif,” Jurnal Hukum & Pembangunan 51, no. 3 (2021): 621–636, https://doi.org/10.21143/jhp.vol51.no3.1064.
Fiqih, Pramesti Ratu, Adellia Mahardhika Widodo, and Anisa Miftahul Firdaus, “Analisis Penerapan Rule of Law oleh Mahkamah Konstitusi sebagai The Guardian of Constitution (Studi pada Kasus Putusan MK Nomor 90/PUU-XXI/2023),” DISCOURSE: Indonesian Journal of Social Studies and Education 1, no. 3 (2024): 238–249, https://doi.org/10.69875/djosse.v1i3.126.
Guirguis, Max, “The Nature and Extent of Presidential Pardon Power: An Analysis in Light of Recent Political Developments,” Commonwealth Review of Political Science 5, no. 1 (2021): Article 4, https://doi.org/10.61611/2994-0044.1038.
Habiburohman, Ilham, “Hubungan Presiden dan Dewan Perwakilan Rakyat Pasca Amendemen Perspektif Teori Constitutional Retrogression,” Jurnal Hukum Ius Quia Iustum 28, no. 1 (2021): 21–44, https://doi.org/10.20885/iustum.vol28.iss1.art2.
Hajiji, Merdi, “Relasi Hukum dan Politik dalam Sistem Hukum Indonesia,” Jurnal Rechts Vinding: Media Pembinaan Hukum Nasional 2, no. 3 (2013): 361–373, https://doi.org/10.33331/rechtsvinding.v2i3.65.
Hasibuan, Mutiara Nora Peace, Moh. Kamaluddin, and Annisa Sabilla Sueni, “Amnesti dan Abolisi bagi Pelaku Korupsi dalam Perspektif Viktimologi Kritis,” Jurnal Hukum Pidana Indonesia 3, no. 1 (2026): 1–22, https://doi.org/10.67468/jhpi.v3i1.51.
Havez, Muhammad, Muhammad Rusjana, and Erine Nur Maulidya, “A Legal Review of the Granting of Abolition and Amnesty in the Cases of Tom Lembong and Hasto Kristiyanto under Indonesian Criminal Law,” Journal of Law and Policy Transformation 10, no. 2 (2026), https://doi.org/10.37253/jlpt.v10i2.11264.
Jayadi, Haeruman, “Analisis Yuridis dan Politis Pemberhentian Presiden dan/atau Wakil Presiden Berdasarkan Undang-Undang Dasar Negara Republik Indonesia Tahun 1945,” Jurnal Risalah Kenotariatan 5, no. 1 (2024): 191–207, https://doi.org/10.29303/risalahkenotariatan.v5i1.241.
Kansil, Christine S. T., and Putri Meilika Nadilatasya, “Dampak Putusan Mahkamah Konstitusi terhadap Dinamika Politik dan Kepercayaan Publik di Indonesia: Analisis Implikasi Hukum dan Etika,” UNES Law Review 6, no. 4 (2024): 10753–10760, https://doi.org/10.31933/unesrev.v6i4.2039.
Karyudi, Bintang Mandala, and Nuril Firdausiah, “Implementasi Supremasi Hukum dalam Penegakan Hukum di Indonesia,” Lex et Lustitia 1, no. 2 (2024): 86–98, https://ejournal.umsj.ac.id/index.php/lel/index.
Kurniawan, Ahmad Depri, Didik Sukriono, and Rosyid Al Atok, “B. J. Habibie’s Political Thought in Democratization in Indonesia,” Journal of Politics and Policy 3, no. 2 (2021): 157–176.
Maulana, Rikiandi Sopian, Chrisdianto Eko Purnomo, Haeruman Jayadi, and Rachman Maulana Kafrawi, “Urgensi Pembentukan Undang-Undang Grasi, Amnesti, Abolisi dan Rehabilitasi Ditinjau dari Kepastian Hukum,” Jurnal Diskresi 3, no. 1 (2024): 52–59, https://doi.org/10.29303/diskresi.v3i1.5072.
Mubarak, M. Zaki, Ahmadi Hasan, and Masyithah Umar, “Tata Kelola Demokratis: Pemanfaatan Kedaulatan Rakyat dalam Memerangi Korupsi,” Indonesian Journal of Islamic Jurisprudence, Economic and Legal Theory 1, no. 4 (2023): 889–905, https://doi.org/10.62976/ijijel.v1i4.240.
Panagopoulos, Costas, and Ching-Hsing Wang, “Rationality, Affect, and Vote Choice,” Frontiers in Political Science 7 (2025): Article 1640408, https://doi.org/10.3389/fpos.2025.1640408.
Pratiwi, N. I., I. N. D. Putra, A. A. N. A. Kumbara, and N. W. Widhiasthini, “Hegemony in Political Communication: The Swing Voter Phenomenon in the 2020 Regional Election in Karangasem Regency, Bali,” Global International Journal of Innovative Research 2, no. 10 (2024): 2344–2356, https://doi.org/10.59613/global.v2i10.247.
Pureklolon, Thomas Tokan, “Eksistensi Budaya Politik di Indonesia: Sebuah Kajian,” Jurnal Communitarian 3, no. 1 (2021): 405–430, https://doi.org/10.56985/jc.v3i1.147.
Putra, Aldriansyah Rangga, Widjaya Kusuma, Harly Stanly Muaja, and Susan Lawotjo, “Tinjauan Yuridis tentang Pemberian Grasi oleh Presiden dalam Sistem Hukum di Indonesia,” vol. 12 (2023), http://repository.unand.ac.id/17166/.
Ramadani, Rizky Malinto, Indra Perwira, and Bilal Dewansyah, “Problem Pemberian Amnesti oleh Presiden dalam Perspektif Kepentingan Negara,” Jurnal Ilmiah Universitas Batanghari Jambi 21, no. 3 (2021): 975–981, https://doi.org/10.33087/jiubj.v21i3.1688.
Raya, Diva, Rihan Rizky, Cucu Robiatul, Jasmine Az-zahra, Wardatul Azizah, and Muhammad Rafa, “Sumber Kekuasaan dalam Negara: Analisis Berdasarkan Teori Konflik Karl Marx,” Public Sphere: Jurnal Sosial Politik, Pemerintahan dan Hukum 3, no. 2 (2024): 33–39, https://doi.org/10.59818/jps.v3i2.810.
Romadhona, Mochammad Rayhan, “Kekuasaan Kehakiman Bersifat Independensi: Tantangan dan Integritas,” Hukum Dinamika Ekselensia 6, no. 4 (2024): 559–581.
Rumokoy, Donald A., and J. Ronald Mawuntu, “Kewenangan Presiden dalam Pemberian Grasi Berdasarkan Sistem Ketatanegaraan Indonesia,” Lex Administratum 8 (2020).
Safitri, Yuli, Anwar Efendi Pane, and Elly Warnisyah Harahap, “Analisis Perilaku Politik, Budaya Masyarakat dan Agama di Indonesia,” Journal of Education Research 4, no. 3 (2023): 1375–1380, https://doi.org/10.37985/jer.v4i3.392.
Voinea, Camelia Florela, “Political Culture Research: Dilemmas and Trends. Prologue to the Special Issue,” Quality & Quantity 54, no. 2 (2020): 361–382, https://doi.org/10.1007/s11135-019-00943-0.
Wantu, Fence, and Usman Rasyid, “Evaluasi Pelaksanaan UUD NRI Tahun 1945,” Jurnal Majelis 8 (2020): 33–60.
Wibowo, Ari, Asep Rohman Dimyati, and Junaedi Junaedi, “Mewujudkan Sistem Hukum Nasional yang Adil dan Efektif: Urgensi Penataan Regulasi dalam Perspektif Politik Hukum di Indonesia,” Journal of Contemporary Law Studies 2, no. 3 (2025): 223–236, https://doi.org/10.47134/lawstudies.v2i3.3793223.
Wiraguna, Sidi Ahyar, “Metode Normatif dan Empiris dalam Penelitian Hukum: Studi Eksploratif di Indonesia,” Public Sphere: Jurnal Sosial Politik, Pemerintahan dan Hukum 3, no. 3 (2024): 58–65, https://doi.org/10.59818/jps.v3i3.1390.
Research Results
Basuki, “Paradoks Tindakan Hukum Penyidik Pegawai Negeri Sipil dalam Sistem Peradilan Pidana Indonesia” (Disertasi, Universitas Jayabaya, 2020).
Magazine or Newspaper Articles
“Bebas dari Penjara, Tom Lembong Ucapkan Terima Kasih ke Prabowo dan DPR,” Kompas.com, August 1, 2025, republished at Kontan, https://nasional.kontan.co.id/news/bebas-dari-penjara-tom-lembong-ucapkan-terima-kasih-ke-prabowo-dan-dpr.
“Dua Sisi Abolisi dan Amnesti,” detikNews (column), https://news.detik.com/kolom/d-8047540/dua-sisi-abolisi-dan-amnesti.
“6 Hal soal Prabowo Beri Abolisi ke Tom Lembong dan Amnesti ke Hasto,” detikNews, August 1, 2025, https://news.detik.com/berita/d-8039577/6-hal-soal-prabowo-beri-abolisi-ke-tom-lembong-dan-amnesti-ke-hasto.
“Jangan Sampai Tom Lembong Mendekam Lagi karena Keppres Telat,” RMOL, August 1, 2025, https://rmol.id/read/2025/08/01/674719/jangan-sampai-tom-lembong-mendekam-lagi-karena-keppres-telat-.
“Keppres Abolisi Terbit, Tom Lembong Bebas Penjara Hari Ini,” CNN Indonesia, August 1, 2025, https://www.cnnindonesia.com/nasional/20250801161023-12-1257703/keppres-abolisi-terbit-tom-lembong-bebas-penjara-hari-ini.
“Menteri Hukum: Keppres Pembebasan Hasto dan Tom Lembong Berlaku 1 Agustus 2025,” Bisnis.com, August 1, 2025, https://kabar24.bisnis.com/read/20250801/16/1898646/menteri-hukum-keppres-pembebasan-hasto-dan-tom-lembong-berlaku-1-agustus-2025.
“Prabowo Memberikan Abolisi Tom Lembong & Amnesti Hasto, Ini Alasannya,” CNBC Indonesia, July 31, 2025, https://www.cnbcindonesia.com/news/20250731225229-4-654063/prabowo-memberikan-abolisi-tom-lembong-amnesti-hasto-ini-alasannya/amp.
“Soal Pemberian Abolisi Tom Lembong dan Amnesti Hasto, Wamensesneg Bilang Begini,” Kompas.com, August 1, 2025, republished at Kontan, https://nasional.kontan.co.id/news/soal-pemberian-abolisi-tom-lembong-dan-amnesti-hasto-wamensesneg-bilang-begini.
Internet
Dandapala, “Rekonstruksi Amnesti dan Abolisi dalam Tata Hukum Indonesia,” https://dandapala.com/opini/detail/rekonstruksi-amnesti-dan-abolisi-dalam-tata-hukum-indonesia.
Laws and Regulations
Indonesia, Central Government. 1945 Constitution of the Republic of Indonesia (1945).
Indonesia, Central Government. Emergency Law No. 11 of 1954 regarding Amnesty and Abolition (1954), https://peraturan.go.id/files/uudrt11-1954.pdf.
Indonesia, Central Government. Law No. 22 of 2002 regarding Clemency, as amended by Law No. 5 of 2010 (2002).
Indonesia, Central Government. Presidential Decree No. 18 of 2025 regarding the granting of Abolition (2025).
