PDIP Supports State Policy Guidelines but Rejects Constitutional Amendment

Deputy Secretary General of PDIP, Utut Adianto, acknowledged that his party supports the ratification of the State Policy Guidelines (PPHN), whose discussion has now been completed and is ready to be taken to the next stage. He explained that PDIP was one of the main drivers behind the PPHN’s ratification, as the party wants programme continuity between changes of government. “PPHN was indeed one of our main driving forces. The concept is that the state’s policy direction cannot be interrupted just because the president changes,” Utut said at the parliament complex on Friday (14/8). Despite this, he said PDIP rejects the option of ratification through an amendment to the 1945 Constitution, though he did not disclose the reason for this rejection. “We clearly support it, but we must safeguard it so there is no need for an amendment,” he said. To date, the MPR has opened three options for regulating the PPHN: through a constitutional amendment, a law, or an MPR decree. Among the three, the amendment option is the strongest. Deputy Speaker of the MPR Eddy Soeparno stated that the amendment and MPR decree options are the most seriously considered. The remaining option, through a law, is considered weak because it lacks strong legal standing. “A law can certainly be brought to the Constitutional Court if there is a dispute related to it, and even a head of state or future governments could make changes to it,” he said. Besides PDIP, the Democratic Party faction also rejects the amendment option for ratifying the PPHN. MPR member from the Democratic faction, Benny Kabur Harman, said his party has conducted discussions on the PPHN and proposed that it be sufficiently regulated through an MPR decree. “The Democrats are of the view that the formation of the PPHN does not require a constitutional amendment,” Benny said at the parliament complex on Tuesday (11/8). “If the PPHN is to be formed, it can be done through an MPR decree,” he added.