Weekly Summary: Proposals for Regional Elections without Deputies and Dasco Mediates Meeting between Hotman and PWI
Various political events from the week of 26 July to 1 August 2026 have come under the spotlight, including a proposal by a member of Commission II of the DPR to hold regional elections without deputy heads, and Deputy Speaker of the DPR RI Sufmi Dasco Ahmad facilitating a meeting between Hotman Paris and the PWI.
- Legislator proposes regional heads be elected without deputies to prevent ‘vote-getters’
Member of Commission II of the DPR RI, Muhammad Khozin, has proposed that regional elections (Pilkada) should only be held to elect regional heads, with deputies being appointed by the elected official. Speaking in a meeting with the Ministry of Home Affairs and regional leaders in Jakarta on Thursday, Khozin suggested this move to prevent deputy candidates from being used merely as ‘vote-getters’. ‘The second solution is to improve the Regional Election Law. We should just elect the regional head without a deputy. The deputy should be appointed by the elected head. This is so they do not just serve as vote-getters; it is a pity for the current deputy candidates,’ he stated.
- Ministry of Defence ensures SPPI graduates will serve as cooperative managers for two years
The Secretary-General of the Ministry of Defence, Lieutenant General TNI Tri Budi Utomo, stated that the graduates of the Indonesian Development Driver Program (SPPI), who are candidates for managers of the Merah Putih Cooperative, will work in the cooperative for two years following their training. Speaking after the closing ceremony of the SPPI training at Halim Perdanakusuma Airbase in East Jakarta on Friday, Tri noted that these assignments would be for a specific period of approximately two years, following assignments from the State-Owned Enterprise Management Agency (BP BUMN).
- South Korean President asks Prabowo to bridge dialogue with North Korea
President Prabowo Subianto revealed that the President of South Korea has requested his assistance in opening a dialogue pathway with North Korea. According to President Prabowo, this request reflects international confidence in Indonesia’s consistent ‘free and active’ and non-aligned foreign policy. ‘The President of South Korea asked me if I could visit North Korea to initiate some form of dialogue,’ President Prabowo stated during a meeting with the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin) at the State Palace in Jakarta on Friday.
- State Secretary: Performance allowance increases not only for TNI, but also for teachers and medics in 3T regions
The Minister of State Secretary, Prasetyo Hadi, explained that the policy to increase performance allowances (tukin) is not limited to TNI personnel but also extends to teachers, lecturers, and healthcare workers serving in underdeveloped, frontier, and remote (3T) regions. Prasetyas explained that the increase was implemented after considering that there had been no adjustments to these allowances for several years. ‘Across various ministries and agencies, there are performance allowances, which vary in amount. For certain reasons, a policy was made to increase them after several years without any adjustment. This applies not only to the TNI and the Ministry of Defence but also to teachers, lecturers, and healthcare workers in 3T areas,’ Prasetyo told reporters.
- Dasco brings together Hotman and PWI Chairman for the sake of unity
Deputy Speaker of the DPR RI, Sufmi Dasco Ahmad, facilitated a meeting between lawyer Hotman Paris Hutapea and the General Chairman of the Indonesian Journalists Association (PWI) Central, Akhmad Munir, to promote unity. The meeting was shared by Sufmi Dasco on his official Instagram account on Tuesday afternoon, showing the three individuals sharing a meal in Jakarta and shaking hands. ‘Indonesian Unity. A gathering with the General Chairman of PWI @munir.akhmad and @hotmanparisofficial today,’ the caption read.