PDI-P Response to KPK on Term Limits: Party Chairman is the Most Respected Figure in the Party
Jakarta - PDI-P Deputy Chairman Deddy Sitorus stated that the chairman of a political party in Indonesia is the most respected figure in the party. Moreover, they also serve as the guardian of the party’s ideology.
Deddy made this remark in response to the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK), which proposed limiting the term of party chairmen to just two periods.
“In the context of Indonesia, which has only rediscovered civil society since the reform era, the party chairman differs from those in many other countries. In Indonesia, the chairman has multiple roles, such as a symbol of unity, vote-getter, guardian of ideology, and the most respected person with psychological bonds to the party’s grassroots,” Deddy told Kompas.com on Thursday (23/4/2026).
In the Indonesian context, he said, the development of political parties must be viewed sociologically and historically.
“Their role is not merely that of a top manager or simple chairman, but also a party symbol and a true leader,” he stated.
“This differs from more mature countries or those where the party chairman is merely the top leader or management,” Deddy added.
Deddy then reminded that parties cannot be equated with heads of institutions or other public positions, which are regulated by career progression and retirement ages.
He stressed that what must be ensured is that parties fulfil their functions according to the law, namely as a means of recruiting public leaders who contest in elections.
“If the proposal is based on cadre development considerations, then the question is whether changing the chairman proves cadre development? Take PDI-P as an example, which never runs out of cadres for party structural positions or public offices from local to central levels—can it be said that it does not conduct cadre development?” he said.
The KPK proposed limiting the term of political party chairmen to a maximum of two management periods.
This proposal was presented by the KPK’s Monitoring Directorate in its study on political party governance, which found that there is no integrated standard cadre system.
“To ensure cadre development proceeds, a regulation is needed to limit the leadership of the party chairman to a maximum of two management periods,” stated the KPK’s Monitoring Directorate on Wednesday (22/4/2026).
“It encourages political parties to implement Constitutional Court Decision Number 60/PUU-XXII/2024 on the minimum threshold for regional head elections through recruitment of candidates based on cadre development,” it further stated.
The KPK also proposed several additions to the revision of Article 29 of Law Number 2 of 2011 on Political Parties, namely regarding party membership in Article 29 paragraph (1) letter a, adding that party members consist of young, intermediate, and senior members.