DPR Pledges Solemn 14 August MPR Annual Session, No Dance Music
The organising committee for the 2026 Joint Annual Session of the MPR, DPR, and DPD has decided to play only national and regional songs so that the session proceeds with solemnity.
The decision on music is also intended to prevent session participants from dancing in the chamber when popular songs are played, as happened last year. The committee said this year’s arrangements are the result of an evaluation of the impact of the 2025 session.
During the 2025 annual session, lawmakers’ dancing to popular music after the event triggered public sentiment and a wave of demonstrations at the end of August, less than a month later.
“We have evaluated it, and perhaps we will not do it [play songs that invite dancing],” said Mahyu Darma, Head of the Protocol, Public Relations, and Media Bureau of the DPD RI Secretariat General, at the parliamentary complex in Jakarta on Wednesday (12/8).
According to Mahyu, the building decorations have also been prepared simply. His office wants to ensure the event proceeds solemnly and represents a state occasion.
“So that is our evaluation, so that the event is solemn, solemn in all its implementation,” he said.
DPR Speaker Puan Maharani also promised that the 2026 MPR annual session will be more solemn. Her office said it has reflected and will exercise greater restraint to focus more on following the agenda.
Even so, she believes the public should be happy and joyful in welcoming Indonesia’s Independence Day, which has reached its 81st year.
According to Puan, the dancing at the 2025 MPR Annual Session happened spontaneously because of the joyful atmosphere. Nevertheless, all participants at that time remained solemn in following the session and the President’s speech.
“It was only when listening to the music after the speech had finished, and that was spontaneous. So there was nothing that made us seem disrespectful,” said the PDIP politician.
Puan explained that an estimated 1,200 participants are expected at the 2026 MPR session.
Besides the 732 members of the DPR and DPD, the rest are former presidents and vice presidents, cabinet members, and VIP guests including ambassadors from friendly countries.
In addition, there are eight special guests invited by President Prabowo Subianto. They are beneficiaries of the government’s strategic programmes.
“And the special invitees include beneficiaries of the President’s programmes who have received and felt the benefits,” she said.