Jimly proposes indirect regional elections only for governors

Former Constitutional Court Chairman Jimly Asshiddiqie has proposed that the discussion on indirect regional elections (pilkada) should apply only to gubernatorial elections. Jimly presented this idea whilst providing input at a public hearing on the Revision of the General Election Law held by Commission II of the House of Representatives at the parliament complex in Jakarta on Tuesday, 10 March 2026.

According to Jimly, the system of democratically electing regional leaders through direct popular vote, rather than through regional representative councils, represents the spirit of reform that began in the early 2000s. However, he noted that after nearly 26 years have passed, such a system could reasonably be re-evaluated.

“Well, it turns out (democracy) has excesses. So there could be options, for instance, let only governors be elected by the regional assembly,” he said.

Jimly explained that eliminating direct gubernatorial elections makes sense because the position of governor leans more towards being an extension of the central government. Governors, he argued, are needed more for consolidation and coordination with the centre, compared to directly managing communities as is the role of regents and mayors.

For this reason, gubernatorial elections could proceed through the Provincial Regional Representative Council from candidates proposed by the president. For example, the president could first designate three gubernatorial candidates, which would then be submitted to the regional assembly for voting. “Whilst district and city elections remain as they are currently. So it won’t be too messy,” he said.

Setting aside the controversy surrounding the proposal to eliminate direct regional elections, Jimly cautioned the House of Representatives to ensure that discussions on this electoral law revision proceed openly. He also requested that the electoral law bill be worked on intensively so it can be completed this year.

To the members of parliament present, Jimly warned that Senayan legislators should not delay discussion of the electoral law bill by avoiding the turmoil caused by numerous differing opinions. “Don’t wait until next year, let there be debate and disagreement about ideas for the future. That’s good, it’s fine. So don’t keep postponing it, or we’ll be too late,” he said.

Jimly stated there is not much time remaining to revise the electoral law. He estimated the law must be completed by the end of this year at the latest so that the government and political parties have a two-year adjustment period before entering the election season in 2029. “So ideally it should be finished this year,” he said.