MPR Speaker Stresses State Policy Guidelines Will Not Regulate Election Technicalities

People’s Consultative Assembly (MPR) Speaker Ahmad Muzani has confirmed that the State Policy Guidelines (PPHN) will not regulate the technical aspects of general elections, including regional head elections (pilkada).

“No. The PPHN only concerns the fundamental principles of democracy. We do not discuss the technicalities of how it should be done; there is none,” Muzani said during a press conference at the parliamentary complex in Senayan, Jakarta, on Wednesday.

He explained that the PPHN serves as a philosophical guide for statecraft, encompassing the fundamental principles of democracy. The PPHN must be adhered to by all state institutions in carrying out the people’s mandate.

According to him, the PPHN differs from the National Long-Term Development Plan (RPJPN), which contains technical guidance. Therefore, the PPHN should be made into a legal product that has binding force for all state institutions.

He noted that the PPHN draft has been under discussion since the MPR leadership in 2019 and was completed during the current period. The PPHN concept was presented to President Prabowo Subianto on Monday (3/8).

In principle, Muzani said, the President accepted the concept and expressed hope that it would soon be enacted as a legal product.

Meanwhile, a joint meeting of the MPR leadership, factions, the Regional Representatives Council (DPD) group, and MPR working bodies on Wednesday discussed, among other things, the most appropriate legal framework options for the PPHN.

When asked whether the MPR would pursue a constitutional amendment, Muzani said that option would be discussed further.

“This is what will be discussed in the next joint meetings. It has not been discussed yet, but earlier various views emerged with different variants,” he said.