House Speaker respects Constitutional Court ruling that regional elections must remain direct

Jakarta (ANTARA) - House Speaker Puan Maharani has stated her respect for the Constitutional Court’s ruling that regional head elections must continue to be conducted directly by the people, guided by generally applicable electoral principles. Puan said the House of Representatives (DPR) will follow up on the decision according to existing mechanisms. “We appreciate and respect the Constitutional Court’s decision and will follow up on it,” Puan said after chairing a plenary session at the parliament complex in Jakarta on Thursday. Meanwhile, Deputy House Speaker Cucun Ahmad Syamsurijal also respected the ruling, even though his political party faction had previously supported the idea of regional elections being conducted indirectly through Regional People’s Representative Councils (DPRD). He added that his side will also observe the evaluation of the implementation of general and regional elections, as well as the development of opinions that emerge during the drafting of legislative revisions. “The lawmakers are still responding to this ruling, whether it aligns with the juridical foundations within the law,” Cucun said. Constitutional Court Chief Justice Suhartoyo stated during the ruling hearing for Case Number 195/PUU-XXIV/2026 that the decision is guided by generally applicable electoral principles while still recognising and respecting special or privileged regional government units. Consequently, the Court declared the petition to review Article 1, point 1 of Law Number 8 of 2015 concerning the Election of Governors, Regents, and Mayors inadmissible. In its considerations, the Court assessed that the petitioner in case 195/PUU-XXIV/2026 failed to demonstrate any actual or potential harm to constitutional rights that could occur within the bounds of reasonable reasoning.