Constitutional Court Judge Queries Parliament: Where Exactly is the National Capital?

Jakarta — Constitutional Court judge Enny Nurbaningsih raised questions about whether Indonesia’s current capital is Jakarta or Nusantara (IKN) during questioning of a parliamentary representative on 11 March 2026.

Enny posed the question to Rudianto Lallo, a member of Commission III of the House of Representatives, who was representing parliament in case number 38/PUU-XXIV/2026, which challenges Article II of Law number 151 of 2024 on amendments to Law number 2 of 2024 regarding the Special Region of Jakarta Province (DKJ Law).

“Where exactly should the position of the capital be?” Enny asked during the hearing, according to a Youtube broadcast of the Constitutional Court on 12 March 2026.

The issue stems from the fact that Law 20/2007 establishes Jakarta’s status as a special provincial government and Indonesia’s national capital.

“Given the enactment of Law 151/2024, what needs clarification from Mr Rudianto Lallo is that this law has changed or even repealed Law 29/2007 on the governance of Jakarta Special Province, which established it as the capital — that repeal has already taken effect,” Enny stated firmly.

However, the presidential decree that would establish Jakarta as a special region and remove its status as the national capital has not yet been signed by the President.

Meanwhile, Jakarta’s status as the national capital in Law 29/2007 has already been revoked with the enactment of Law 151/2024.

“This needs clarification, Sir, regarding the timeline to ensure the legal position of the capital is clear. Since the law establishing Jakarta as the capital has been repealed, whilst the presidential decree has not yet been issued,” Enny said.

“Now it is called DKJ, so where exactly is the position of the national capital? We request additional clarification on this matter,” she added.

The case number 38/PUU-XXIV/2026 was filed by Astro Alfa Liecharlie, who challenges Article II of the DKJ Law.

Article II of the DKJ Law states: “The Presidential Decree regarding the relocation of the Capital of the Republic of Indonesia from Jakarta Special Region to Nusantara is to be determined later.” The word “later” in this article is considered ambiguous and does not provide clear time limits regarding the determination of capital relocation.