Presidential Electoral Legitimacy in Indonesia (2004–2019): A Siyasah Syariyyah Analysis

Presidential elections constitute a central mechanism for democratic legitimacy in Indonesia’s constitutional system. While previous studies have extensively examined electoral competition, coalition politics, and democratic consolidation, limited attention has been given to how electoral legitimacy can be evaluated through the normative framework of siyasah syariyyah. This gap is significant because legitimacy in Islamic constitutional thought extends beyond electoral victory and encompasses justice (al-‘adl), public welfare (maslahah), and trustworthiness (amanah) as foundational principles of governance. This study analyzes the legitimacy of Indonesia’s presidential elections from 2004 to 2019 by examining the electoral cycles of 2004, 2009, 2014, and 2019 through the perspective of siyasah syariyyah. Employing a qualitative normative-juridical method and doctrinal legal analysis, the study utilizes constitutional documents, electoral regulations, judicial decisions, and relevant scholarly literature as primary sources. The findings demonstrate that electoral legitimacy in Indonesia is shaped not only by constitutional procedures and electoral outcomes but also by the quality of political competition, coalition formation, and public acceptance of electoral results. Using al-‘adl, maslahah, and amanah as analytical indicators, the study finds that democratic legitimacy and Islamic constitutional legitimacy are complementary rather than contradictory. The analysis further reveals that legitimacy is strengthened when electoral processes uphold fairness, promote public welfare, and encourage accountable political leadership. This article contributes to the scholarship on Islamic constitutional law by proposing a siyasah syariyyah-based framework for assessing electoral legitimacy, thereby integrating democratic constitutionalism with Islamic principles of governance in contemporary Muslim-majority states.