Electronic Theses and Dissertation

Pasal 218 Undang-Undang Nomor 1 Tahun 2023 tentang kitab Undang-Undang hukum pidana (KUHP) tidak lagi disebut secara eksplisit dengan kata menghina, melainkan diwujudkan melalui frasa menyerang kehormatan atau harkat dan martabat. Pasal 218 KUHP mengatur mengenai setiap orang yang di muka umum menyerang kehormatan atau harkat dan martabat Presiden dan/atau Wakil Presiden di pidana paling lama tiga tahun dan denda katagori IV. Selanjutnya, diperjelas dalam Pasal 219 KUHP yang mengatur mengenai penyebarluasan muatan menyerang kehormatan atau harkat dan martabat Presiden dan/atau Wakil Presiden melalui melalui berbagai media di pidana empat tahun dan denda katagori IV, sedangkan Pasal 220 KUHP menentukan bahwa tindak pidana tersebut hanya dapat dituntut berdasarkan pengaduan Presiden dan/atau Wakil Presiden karena sifatnya delik aduan. Secara normatif, ketentuan tersebut bertujuan memberikan perlindungan terhadap kehormatan atau harkat dan martabat Presiden dan/atau Wakil Presiden dalam kedudukannya sebagai pemegang jabatan konstitusional, tetapi dalam kenyataannya rumusan norma penghinaan dinilai berpotensi menimbulkan multitafsir. Terutama dalam membedakan antara kritik yang sah terhadap penyelenggaraan pemerintahan dan perbuatan yang dapat dikualifikasikan sebagai penghinaan. Kondisi ini menimbulkan kekhawatiran terhadap potensi pembatasan kebebasan berekspresi sebagai hak konstitusional warga negara Indonesia.
Penenlitian ini bertujuan menjelaskan kebijakan hukum pidana tindak pidana penghinaan Presiden dan/atau Wakil Presiden dalam Undang-Undang No. 1 Tahun 2023 tentang KUHP berdasarkan prinsip hukum pidana dan prinsip kebebasan berekspresi sebagai bagian dari hak asasi manusia yang dijamin oleh konstitusi.
Penelitian ini menggunakan jenis penelitian yuridis normatif melalui kajian terhadap bahan hukum primer, bahan hukum sekunder, dan bahan hukum tarsier. Bahan hukum primer sebagai sumber hukum utama dan bahan hukum sekunder yang memberikan penjelasan maupun analisis terhadap bahan hukum primer dengan menerapkan pendekatan peraturan perundang-undangan, pendekatan konseptual serta pendekatan kasus. Teknik pengumpulan data dalam penelitian melalui studi kepustakaan dengan seluruh data yang telah dihimpun kemudian
*Mahasiswa
**Pembimbing Utama
***Pembimbing Anggota
diolah dan ditelaah menggunakan metode analisis kualitatif untuk memperoleh pemahaman yang komprehensif mengenai permasalahan hukum yang menjadi objek penelitian.
Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa pengaturan mengenai penghinaan terhadap Presiden dan/atau Wakil Presiden dalam Undang-Undang No. 1 Tahun 2023 tentang KUHP merupakan perwujudan pengendalian sosial. Termasuk dalam aspek yang memperoleh perlindungan hukum pidana adalah kepentingan negara dalam hal ini martabat dan kehormatan negara, Presiden dan/atau Wakil Presiden merupakan personifikasi dari negara. Pasal ini juga merupakan perwujudan pengendalian sosial sebagai salah satu tujuan hukum pidana, Presiden dan/atau Wakil Presiden adalah primus inter pares. Artinya, yang utama diantara yang sederajat. Keberlakuan Pasal ini dibatasi secara ketat dengan Pasal 218 ayat (2) sebagai alasan penghapusan penuntutan pidana dan Pasal 220 sebagai delik aduan absolut. Selain itu, penggunaan restorative justice untuk tindak pidana Penghinaan Presiden dan/atau Wakil Presiden juga diberlakukan. Pendekatan ini diutamakan agar masyarakat tidak mudah dipenjara akibat lontaran kata atau kritik yang dianggap menghina, melainkan diselesaikan secara damai melalui ruang dialog. Karena pada prinsipnya penggunaan hukuman penjara pada Pasal 218 s.d. Pasal 220 Undang-Undang No. 1 Tahun 2023 tentang KUHP diposisikan sebagai pilihan terakhir (ultimum remedium). Keberadaan Pasal penghinaan Presiden dan/atau Wakil Presiden harus ditempatkan secara seimbang antara perlindungan terhadap kehormatan pejabat negara dan penghormatan terhadap kebebasan berpendapat warga negara.
Menyarankan agar Pemerintah dan pembentuk Undang-Undang memperjelas rumusan norma menyerang kehormatan atau harkat dan martabat terhadap Presiden dan/atau Wakil Presiden dalam Undang-Undang Nomor 1 Tahun 2023 tentang KUHP, khususnya mengenai batasan antara kritik yang sah dan penghinaan terhadap kehormatan pribadi. Kejelasan norma tersebut penting untuk mencegah multitafsir dan menjamin kepastian hukum. Aparat penegak hukum diharapkan menerapkan Pasal 218 s.d. Pasal 220 Undang-Undang No. 1 Tahun 2023 tentang KUHP secara cermat, proporsional, dan berorientasi pada perlindungan hak asasi manusia dan sisi lain, masyarakat hendaknya menggunakan kebebasan berekspresi secara bertanggung jawab dengan menghormati etika, hukum, serta hak dan kehormatan orang lain dalam kehidupan demokrasi.

Kata Kunci: Tindak Pidana Penghinaan Presiden dan/atau Wakil Presiden, KUHP, Kebebasan Berekspresi.

Articles 218 to 220 of Law Number 1 of 2023 on the Criminal Code (KUHP) regulate the criminal offense of insulting the President and/or the Vice President. To prevent abuse of authority, the legislature formulated this offense as a complaint-based offense, meaning that prosecution may be initiated only upon a complaint filed directly by the President and/or the Vice President as the injured party. Normatively, these provisions are intended to safeguard the dignity of the presidency, provide legal certainty in the prosecution of acts of insult, and strike a balance between protecting state interests and respecting freedom of expression. Nevertheless, these provisions have generated considerable debate among legal scholars, practitioners, and the public because the statutory definition of “insult” is considered susceptible to multiple interpretations, particularly in distinguishing legitimate criticism of government administration from conduct constituting criminal insult. This situation raises concerns about potential restrictions on the constitutional right to freedom of expression for Indonesian citizens and presents challenges for law enforcement in practice. This study aims to examine the regulation of the criminal offense of insulting the President and/or the Vice President under Law Number 1 of 2023 on the Criminal Code from the perspectives of criminal law principles and the principle of freedom of expression as a constitutional human right. The research employs a normative juridical method, drawing on statutory, conceptual, and case approaches. The study is based on secondary data consisting of primary and secondary legal materials collected through library research and analyzed using qualitative methods. The findings indicate that the regulation of insults against the President and/or the Vice President under Law Number 1 of 2023 constitutes an instrument of social control. Criminal law protects the interests of the state, including the dignity and honor of the state, with the President and/or the Vice President serving as the personification of the state. The provisions also reflect the social control function of criminal law, recognizing the President and/or the Vice President as primus inter pares, the first among equals. The application of these provisions is subject to strict limitations through Article 218 paragraph (2), which provides grounds for the extinguishment of criminal prosecution, and Article 220, which classifies the offense as complaint-based. Furthermore, restorative justice is recognized in cases involving insults against the President and/or the Vice President. This approach prioritizes peaceful resolution through dialogue, thereby reducing the likelihood that individuals will be imprisoned solely for statements or criticism deemed insulting. Accordingly, imprisonment under Articles 218 to 220 is intended to function as an ultimum remedium (a measure of last resort). These provisions should therefore be applied in a manner that maintains an appropriate balance between protecting the dignity of state officials and safeguarding citizens’ freedom of expression. This study recommends that the Government and the legislature clarify the statutory formulation of the offense of insulting the President and/or the Vice President under Law Number 1 of 2023, particularly by establishing a clear distinction between legitimate criticism and insults directed at personal honor. Such clarification is essential to prevent divergent interpretations and ensure legal certainty. Law enforcement authorities are encouraged to apply Articles 218 to 220 carefully, proportionately, and consistently with the protection of human rights. At the same time, members of the public should exercise their freedom of expression responsibly, with due regard for ethics, the law, and the rights and dignity of others within a democratic society. Keywords: Criminal Offense of Insulting the President and/or the Vice President; Criminal Code; Freedom of Expression. Articles 218 to 220 of Law Number 1 of 2023 on the Criminal Code (KUHP) regulate the criminal offense of insulting the President and/or the Vice President. To prevent abuse of authority, the legislature formulated this offense as a complaint-based offense, meaning that prosecution may be initiated only upon a complaint filed directly by the President and/or the Vice President as the injured party. Normatively, these provisions are intended to safeguard the dignity of the presidency, provide legal certainty in the prosecution of acts of insult, and strike a balance between protecting state interests and respecting freedom of expression. Nevertheless, these provisions have generated considerable debate among legal scholars, practitioners, and the public because the statutory definition of “insult” is considered susceptible to multiple interpretations, particularly in distinguishing legitimate criticism of government administration from conduct constituting criminal insult. This situation raises concerns about potential restrictions on the constitutional right to freedom of expression for Indonesian citizens and presents challenges for law enforcement in practice. This study aims to examine the regulation of the criminal offense of insulting the President and/or the Vice President under Law Number 1 of 2023 on the Criminal Code from the perspectives of criminal law principles and the principle of freedom of expression as a constitutional human right. The research employs a normative juridical method, drawing on statutory, conceptual, and case approaches. The study is based on secondary data consisting of primary and secondary legal materials collected through library research and analyzed using qualitative methods. The findings indicate that the regulation of insults against the President and/or the Vice President under Law Number 1 of 2023 constitutes an instrument of social control. Criminal law protects the interests of the state, including the dignity and honor of the state, with the President and/or the Vice President serving as the personification of the state. The provisions also reflect the social control function of criminal law, recognizing the President and/or the Vice President as primus inter pares, the first among equals. The application of these provisions is subject to strict limitations through Article 218 paragraph (2), which provides grounds for the extinguishment of criminal prosecution, and Article 220, which classifies the offense as complaint-based. Furthermore, restorative justice is recognized in cases involving insults against the President and/or the Vice President. This approach prioritizes peaceful resolution through dialogue, thereby reducing the likelihood that individuals will be imprisoned solely for statements or criticism deemed insulting. Accordingly, imprisonment under Articles 218 to 220 is intended to function as an ultimum remedium (a measure of last resort). These provisions should therefore be applied in a manner that maintains an appropriate balance between protecting the dignity of state officials and safeguarding citizens’ freedom of expression. This study recommends that the Government and the legislature clarify the statutory formulation of the offense of insulting the President and/or the Vice President under Law Number 1 of 2023, particularly by establishing a clear distinction between legitimate criticism and insults directed at personal honor. Such clarification is essential to prevent divergent interpretations and ensure legal certainty. Law enforcement authorities are encouraged to apply Articles 218 to 220 carefully, proportionately, and consistently with the protection of human rights. At the same time, members of the public should exercise their freedom of expression responsibly, with due regard for ethics, the law, and the rights and dignity of others within a democratic society. Keywords: Criminal Offense of Insulting the President and/or the Vice President; Criminal Code; Freedom of Expression.