Proposal for Regional Elections Without Deputies Emerges, PDIP Calls for Immediate Formation of Special Committee
PDIP Central Executive Board Chairman Ganjar Pranowo has responded to a proposal that regional head elections (pilkada) should only elect a regional head without a deputy. Ganjar believes that all issues related to the electoral and regional election systems should be discussed comprehensively through a special committee (pansus).
"A special committee should be formed immediately so that the discussion of all issues and proposals can be conducted comprehensively," Ganjar told reporters on Thursday (6/8/2026).
According to him, many issues need to be discussed urgently. Ganjar then detailed a number of issues he believes should be included in the special committee’s deliberations. The electoral system, for example, includes the codification of political laws, the design of national and local elections, and the synchronisation of the schedule for general and regional elections.
For the presidential election, Ganjar believes the discussion should include the presidential threshold. Meanwhile, for the election of members of the House of Representatives (DPR) and Regional Legislative Councils (DPRD), issues that need to be discussed include the parliamentary threshold, the size and arrangement of electoral districts, the allocation of seat numbers, and the method of converting votes into seats.
"For regional elections, the system (direct or other alternatives), the nomination threshold for regional heads, requirements for independent candidates, and the scheduling of regional elections," he stated.
Furthermore, he believes there is a need to strengthen the institutions of election organisers, from the General Elections Commission (KPU), the Elections Supervisory Body (Bawaslu), to the Election Organiser Ethics Council (DKPP). This includes the recruitment of organisers, the resolution of election and regional election disputes, and the digitalisation of election administration.
Ganjar also believes that election integrity issues, such as money politics and the neutrality of the state civil apparatus (ASN), need to be discussed. In addition, he said, women’s representation and regional representation must be considered.
"With so many issues, discussions need to be held immediately. So that the discussion is not partial," he concluded.
Previously, a member of House Commission II from the National Awakening Party (PKB) faction, Muhammad Khozin, proposed that regional head elections should only elect a regional head without a deputy. In his view, the deputy regional head should be appointed by the elected regional head.
This was conveyed by Khozin during a meeting of House Commission II with the Ministry of Home Affairs and regional heads and deputies at the parliamentary complex in Senayan, Jakarta, on Thursday (30/7/2026). Khozin said the proposal was to prevent deputy regional heads from being used merely as vote-getters in regional elections.
"What is the second solution? Revise the Regional Election Law. Let us just elect a regional head without a deputy. The deputy regional head can simply be appointed by the regional head. This is so they do not just become a vote-getter; the current situation is unfortunate for deputy regional heads," he said.