Puan Maharani: Constitutional Court Ethics Council Cannot Proceed with Adies Kadir Complaint
The House of Representatives plenary session today adopted a political stance on the reported ethics violation complaint against Senayan-nominated constitutional justice Adies Kadir, which was filed with the Constitutional Court's Ethics Council (MKMK). The highest-level session, chaired by DPR Speaker Puan Maharani, affirmed that the MKMK cannot proceed with the civil society coalition's complaint against Adies Kadir.
"The Constitutional Court's Ethics Council does not have the authority to follow up on reports concerning the selection process for constitutional justices by any nominating institution, including that carried out by the DPR regarding Adies Kadir," said Puan Maharani during the plenary session at the DPR complex in Jakarta on Thursday, 19 February 2026.
Puan stated that the selection of Adies Kadir falls within the DPR's authority as stipulated in Article 24C paragraph 3 of the 1945 Constitution. The DPR considers the nomination and endorsement process for Adies Kadir as a Constitutional Court justice to be in accordance with existing regulations. On that basis, the DPR asserted that the MKMK has no right to process the complaint regarding the former Golkar Party politician.
The statement read by Puan was the result of Commission III's deliberations on Wednesday, 18 February 2026. The conclusions encompassed three points, including Commission III's assertion that the MKMK has no right to follow up on the Adies Kadir complaint.
Furthermore, Commission III requested that the MKMK remain consistent in exercising its authority over the enforcement of the code of ethics and conduct for sitting constitutional justices. Thirdly, the legal affairs commission also recommended that the Constitutional Court clarify the regulations governing the MKMK's duties, functions and authority in accordance with Law Number 7 of 2020 on the Constitutional Court.
After reading out the three conclusions, Puan sought the approval of parliamentary members. "Can the conclusions of the Commission III session be approved and followed up in accordance with the applicable mechanisms?" Puan said.
The members present unanimously approved the decision, followed by the strike of the session gavel. On Wednesday, Commission III held a public hearing with the MKMK to discuss the complaint against Adies Kadir. A number of Commission III members pressed the MKMK not to exceed its ethics mandate and not to interfere with the DPR's authority in appointing Constitutional Court justices.
MKMK Chairman I Dewa Gede Palguna affirmed that no party should intervene in the MKMK's authority in handling the ethics complaint against Adies. The Professor of Legal Studies at Udayana University stated that the MKMK respects the DPR's choice in selecting constitutional justices.
The DPR nominated Adies Kadir to replace Constitutional Court Justice Arief Hidayat, who completed his term on 3 February 2026. However, the nomination process proved contentious as the DPR abruptly put forward Adies in late January, despite having previously designated Inosentius Samsul as its Constitutional Court candidate in mid-2025.
Adies Kadir's appointment proceeded smoothly through to his oath of office before President Prabowo Subianto at an inauguration ceremony at the State Palace in Jakarta on 5 February 2026. The day after the inauguration, 21 legal practitioners and academics belonging to the Constitutional and Administrative Law Society (CALS) filed an ethics violation complaint against Adies Kadir with the MKMK.
"The Constitutional Court's Ethics Council does not have the authority to follow up on reports concerning the selection process for constitutional justices by any nominating institution, including that carried out by the DPR regarding Adies Kadir," said Puan Maharani during the plenary session at the DPR complex in Jakarta on Thursday, 19 February 2026.
Puan stated that the selection of Adies Kadir falls within the DPR's authority as stipulated in Article 24C paragraph 3 of the 1945 Constitution. The DPR considers the nomination and endorsement process for Adies Kadir as a Constitutional Court justice to be in accordance with existing regulations. On that basis, the DPR asserted that the MKMK has no right to process the complaint regarding the former Golkar Party politician.
The statement read by Puan was the result of Commission III's deliberations on Wednesday, 18 February 2026. The conclusions encompassed three points, including Commission III's assertion that the MKMK has no right to follow up on the Adies Kadir complaint.
Furthermore, Commission III requested that the MKMK remain consistent in exercising its authority over the enforcement of the code of ethics and conduct for sitting constitutional justices. Thirdly, the legal affairs commission also recommended that the Constitutional Court clarify the regulations governing the MKMK's duties, functions and authority in accordance with Law Number 7 of 2020 on the Constitutional Court.
After reading out the three conclusions, Puan sought the approval of parliamentary members. "Can the conclusions of the Commission III session be approved and followed up in accordance with the applicable mechanisms?" Puan said.
The members present unanimously approved the decision, followed by the strike of the session gavel. On Wednesday, Commission III held a public hearing with the MKMK to discuss the complaint against Adies Kadir. A number of Commission III members pressed the MKMK not to exceed its ethics mandate and not to interfere with the DPR's authority in appointing Constitutional Court justices.
MKMK Chairman I Dewa Gede Palguna affirmed that no party should intervene in the MKMK's authority in handling the ethics complaint against Adies. The Professor of Legal Studies at Udayana University stated that the MKMK respects the DPR's choice in selecting constitutional justices.
The DPR nominated Adies Kadir to replace Constitutional Court Justice Arief Hidayat, who completed his term on 3 February 2026. However, the nomination process proved contentious as the DPR abruptly put forward Adies in late January, despite having previously designated Inosentius Samsul as its Constitutional Court candidate in mid-2025.
Adies Kadir's appointment proceeded smoothly through to his oath of office before President Prabowo Subianto at an inauguration ceremony at the State Palace in Jakarta on 5 February 2026. The day after the inauguration, 21 legal practitioners and academics belonging to the Constitutional and Administrative Law Society (CALS) filed an ethics violation complaint against Adies Kadir with the MKMK.