Puan Responds to Proposal to Accelerate Discussion of Electoral Law Revision

House of Representatives Speaker Puan Maharani has responded to the proposal from former Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Mohammad Mahfud Mahmodin regarding the acceleration of the revision of Law No. 7 of 2017 concerning Elections.

Puan stated that all party factions in the House of Representatives, together with the government, are continuing discussions concerning electoral law revision both formally and informally to seek the best formulation to be applied in the 2029 elections.

“However, given the current geopolitical situation, we are not yet thinking about politics in 2029,” Puan said at the House of Representatives, People’s Consultative Assembly, and House of Representatives Complex on Thursday, 12 March 2026.

She noted that the House of Representatives and government are currently more focused on addressing grassroots issues, including coordinating themselves to create regulations based on the interests of the public.

“That is what we are focusing on. How government programmes and policies can run well and public welfare can be achieved,” said the PDIP politician.

In a hearing session with Commission II of the House of Representatives on Tuesday, 10 March, Mahfud Md proposed that the electoral law revision be expedited considering the time for the election administration drawing closer.

He cited the experience of the 2024 elections. At that time, the General Elections Commission had opened registrations for participating parties in June or rather more quickly.

Another consideration why the electoral law revision must be completed by at the latest two years before implementation, or 2027, is that the drafting of regulations cannot be done hastily. According to Mahfud, it has the potential to create legal problems including lawsuits at the Constitutional Court.

“According to me, it is indeed correct that the Regional Elections Law and the Electoral Law must be revised and must be completed as soon as possible,” said the former Constitutional Court Chief.

In a similar occasion, Jimly Asshiddiqie also proposed acceleration of the discussion of the electoral law revision in Commission II of the House of Representatives.

“I support this, hopefully it will be timely, because this year it should already be formed,” said Jimly.