KPK: Constitutional Court Ruling on Leadership Candidate Requirements is Appropriate

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has stated that Constitutional Court Decision Number 70/PUU-XXIV/2026 regarding the requirement for anti-corruption agency leadership candidates to first become inactive from their previous positions is deemed appropriate. “We consider it already appropriate, proportionate, and providing legal certainty,” said KPK Spokesperson Budi Prasetyo to journalists in Jakarta on Thursday. Budi explained that the KPK views this as such because the decision not only closes room for multiple interpretations but also preserves the dignity of the anti-corruption agency’s independence. Additionally, the decision simultaneously minimises the potential for conflicts of interest through the mechanism of inactivity from previous positions. “For the KPK, the most important thing is that integrity and independence remain the main foundation,” he said. Therefore, Budi stated that the anti-corruption agency views the MK’s decision as able to strengthen the institutional governance of the KPK to remain professional, independent, and effective in carrying out its mandate to eradicate corruption. “And this is reinforced by our collective collegial work system, where every strategic decision is taken collectively by the leadership. With this mechanism, room for subjectivity can be reduced, checks and balances (mutual control and balance) remain maintained, and public accountability is further strengthened,” he said. In its verdict, the MK stated that the word “melepas” in Article 29 letter i of Law Number 19 of 2019 on the KPK contradicts the 1945 Constitution of the Republic of Indonesia, and has no binding legal force conditionally as long as it is not interpreted as “inactive from”. The MK also stated that the phrase “not carrying out” in Article 29 letter j of the KPK Law contradicts the 1945 Constitution of the Republic of Indonesia, and has no binding legal force conditionally as long as it is not interpreted as “inactive from”. Thus, Article 29 letter i of the KPK Law changes to: “inactive from structural positions and/or other positions during tenure as a member of the Corruption Eradication Commission;” Then Article 29 letter j of the KPK Law changes to: “inactive from their profession during tenure as a member of the Corruption Eradication Commission; and.”