Puan Denies Secret Discussions on Election Law Revision

Rumours have circulated that the House of Representatives (DPR) is discussing revisions to the Election Law secretly or behind closed doors. However, DPR Speaker Puan Maharani has refuted these claims.

“Regarding the Election Bill, there is indeed a time limit, and political communications continue to be carried out within political parties, and these are not done secretly,” Puan said during a press conference at the parliamentary complex in Senayan, Jakarta, on Tuesday (21/4/2026).

Puan stated that communications are conducted both formally and informally. She assured that political communications are always maintained.

“Communications can be formal or informal, but political communications are always ongoing,” she said.

The PDIP DPP Chair ensured that the upcoming elections will proceed honestly and fairly. Puan hopes that no one will be disadvantaged by the revision of the Election Law that will be discussed.

“The essence is to ensure that the elections run honestly and fairly, proceeding well, and that the spirit of democracy remains intact without harming the nation and state,” she said.

Commission II of the DPR Pushes for Prompt Discussion

Deputy Chairman of DPR RI Commission II, Zulfikar Arse Sadikin, hopes that the discussion of the Election Bill can take place this year. He wants the revision to become a DPR RI initiative proposal in 2026.

“Clearly, there is a desire for the preparation to be finalised soon as an initiative bill, and the discussion can proceed promptly, considering that by the end of this year, we will enter the stages of the 2029 elections, namely the recruitment of election organisers,” Arse said at the parliamentary complex in Senayan, Jakarta, on Friday (17/4).

Arse mentioned that the discussion of the Election Bill is hoped to continue soon, given that the recruitment process for election organisers will take place at the end of the year. Nevertheless, the DPR RI must also consider other factors, including the country’s conditions in discussing the revision of the Election Law.

“There is indeed such a hope. But we must pay attention to all aspects, all matters. How is the Commission II environment, how is the DPR, how are the parties, and also the state of our country outside,” he said.

Arse also explained that the draft and academic paper for the Election Bill are not yet available. Therefore, he continued, the meeting that was previously scheduled with the DPR Expert Body has been redirected to a leadership meeting with faction group leaders (kapoksi).

“It’s not cancelled, but by agreement of the leadership, the meeting is not an internal one, but a leadership meeting with kapoksi,” he stated.