Constitutional Court Rules Jakarta Remains Capital, PDIP: Gibran Should Work in IKN
The Constitutional Court (MK) has rejected a judicial review petition against Law Number 3 of 2022 concerning the State Capital, ensuring that the Province of DKI Jakarta maintains its status as the capital. Komarudin Watubun, Chairman of the PDIP Honorary Board, assessed that the court’s decision aligns with the current reality on the ground.
“Indeed, that is the fact. This is a matter of regulation prepared for the capital there. However, de facto, the national capital is currently in Jakarta and will remain in Jakarta as long as the new site is not ready. What else can be done?” Watubun told journalists at the parliamentary complex in Senayan, Jakarta, on Monday (18/05/2026).
The member of Commission II of the House of Representatives (DPR) noted that the 7th President of Indonesia, Joko Widodo, previously operated from IKN. Consequently, Watubun argued that Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka should also work from IKN to ensure that the maintenance costs for the new capital do not go to waste.
“That is what should happen; perhaps some ministers or even the Vice President should work there (IKN) so that there is a benefit, rather than having all those buildings require routine maintenance costs for the next several years,” he said.
Watubun noted that the daily maintenance costs in IKN pose a significant challenge for the state, especially given the current difficult economic climate. “That is indeed the problem, because the infrastructure development projects there require maintenance every month, every day. And where does that money come from? The state provides it. We initiated an ambitious project (IKN) that did not truly account for the negative side effects of that decision, but what can be done? All factions supported it at the time,” he added.
The Constitutional Court previously rejected the judicial review of Law Number 3 of 2022. The Court emphasised that the Province of DKI Jakarta remains the capital of Indonesia, as stated during the verdict announcement for Case Number 71/PUU-XXIV/2026, held on Tuesday (12/05) and presided over by Chief Justice Suhartoyo.
In the lawsuit, the petitioners argued that the norms in Article 2, paragraph (1) of Law 2/2024 were out of sync with Article 39, paragraph (1) of Law 3/2022, creating a constitutional vacuum regarding the capital’s status. They claimed this had implications for the legality of government actions, including the issuance of state decisions, state activities, and the execution of government administration.
“Rejecting the petitioner’s request in its entirety,” stated Chief Justice Suhartoyo during the session.