Law Minister Supratman: Constitutional Court Ruling on Presidential Insult Reinforces Criminal Code

Law Minister Supratman Andi Agtas has responded to the Constitutional Court’s ruling that the offence of insulting the president and vice president cannot be prosecuted by other parties. This means that insults against the president and vice president can only be prosecuted by the president and vice president themselves.

Supratman explained that the Constitutional Court’s ruling merely reinforces the provisions of the Criminal Code. “Our Criminal Code actually already has the same intent. The Constitutional Court is simply reinforcing that only the President and Vice President may file a report,” Supratman told journalists, as quoted on Saturday, 15 August 2026.

He said the Constitutional Court’s ruling makes clear that matters concerning the dignity and honour of the president or vice president must be reported by the president and vice president themselves. “It is a good thing and we support it, so there is no more room for interpretation,” Supratman said.

It was previously reported that the Constitutional Court has clarified who is entitled to report alleged criminal acts of insult against the President and Vice President. Through its latest ruling, the Court affirmed that such cases may only proceed based on a direct complaint from the President or Vice President who is the target of the insult.

This means that family members, sympathisers, supporters, volunteers or other third parties cannot initiate criminal proceedings over alleged insults against the President or Vice President based solely on their own assessment.

The provision was affirmed by the Constitutional Court through Ruling Number 275/PUU-XXIII/2025, which reviewed Law Number 20 of 2025 on the Criminal Procedure Code. The ruling was read out on Wednesday, 12 August 2026.

“The verdict: to adjudicate, to grant the petitioners’ request in part,” said Chief Justice Suhartoyo when reading the ruling.