Parliament reveals several countries that failed to relocate their capitals during Constitutional Court hearing
Jakarta — A member of Parliament’s Commission III, Rudianto Lallo, representing the DPR (House of Representatives) revealed several countries that failed to relocate their capital cities during a Constitutional Court hearing on the capital relocation case on Wednesday, 11 March 2026 at the Constitutional Court building in Jakarta.
“Readiness for capital relocation is the most fundamental factor to guarantee success in accordance with the established planning,” Rudianto stated during the hearing, as quoted from the Constitutional Court’s YouTube broadcast on Thursday, 12 March 2026.
“Several countries are considered to have failed to relocate their capitals because the process was done hastily, such as in Tanzania, Myanmar, and Nigeria,” he added.
Article II of the Capital City Law states: “The President’s decision regarding the relocation of the Capital of the Republic of Indonesia from the Special Capital Region Province of Jakarta to the Nusantara Capital City shall be determined later.” The phrase “later” in this article has been considered ambiguous and does not provide clear time constraints regarding the determination of the capital relocation.
However, Rudianto explained that the phrase “later” in Article II of the Capital City Law was not intended as an ambiguous norm.
“Rather, it is a form of norm formulation that provides legal flexibility and open legal policy to the government to determine the timing of capital relocation implementation while considering the readiness of infrastructure, facilities, and adequate amenities. As well as the administrative ecosystem of government as the state capital,” Rudianto said.
Therefore, Parliament did not establish a deadline for the issuance of the Presidential Decree in order to provide flexibility in determining the capital relocation.
“The absence of a time limit set by the Presidential Decree concerning capital relocation is carried out by considering the readiness of Nusantara Capital City in a mature and comprehensive manner. Whether from the aspect of planning, financing, and investment, infrastructure development, institutional readiness of the Nusantara Capital City Authority, the transfer of state civil apparatus, as well as support from the social, economic, and environmental ecosystem,” Rudianto stated.
Separately, Constitutional Court judge Enny raised a question regarding the actual position of the capital city. Law Number 151 of 2024 on the Capital City has revoked Law Number 29 of 2007 on the Government of the Special Capital Region Province of Jakarta as the Capital of the Republic of Indonesia. However, the Presidential Decree that designates Jakarta as a special region and no longer as the capital city has not been signed by the president.
“Now it is called the Special Capital Region, so where exactly is the capital city now? I request that additional explanation be provided on this matter,” Enny said.