The Problematic Nature of Presidential Defamation Provisions in a Democratic Rule-of-Law State

This study examines the application of defamation provisions against the President and Vice President in the Indonesian Penal Code (Law No. 1 of 2023), particularly within the context of freedom of expression in a democratic state. The research aims to analyze the balance between the protection of public officials and the right to freedom of speech. Using a normative juridical method, this study analyzes legal norms and related defamation cases. The findings show that defamation against the President and Vice President is regulated under Articles 218(1), 218(2), 219, 240, and 241 of the National Criminal Code. Such acts are classified as attacks on dignity, encompassing not only insults but also slander, verbal abuse, and derogatory actions. The criminal elements include an attack on dignity, intent, and dissemination through information technology. These offenses are categorized as formal complaints and aduan offenses. However, the articles suffer from interpretive ambiguity and potentially restrict legitimate criticism, posing risks of power abuse and criminalizing free speech.