Why MPR Speaker Ahmad Muzani Visited the Constitutional Court
Chairman of the People’s Consultative Assembly (MPR) Ahmad Muzani has explained the reasons behind his institution’s visit to the Constitutional Court on Wednesday, 9 July 2026. Muzani said that, in addition to conveying preparations for the annual session, the MPR’s visit was part of efforts to involve the Court in the process of drafting the State Policy Guidelines (PPHN) as well as a possible amendment to the 1945 Constitution.
“It is in the context of involving all elements that we are holding discussions with the Constitutional Court and onwards,” Muzani said after meeting the Court’s leadership on Wednesday, 8 July 2026.
Muzani also said he would discuss with President Prabowo Subianto the determination of the legal form of the PPHN through to the fifth amendment. However, he said that meeting was still at the planning stage.
Muzani said Prabowo had urged the MPR to be careful in drafting the PPHN and the fifth amendment, because amendments concern the livelihoods of many people in matters of statehood, democracy and constitutionalism.
“The President cautioned us not to rush, while also absorbing the aspirations of the people and involving all elements in this process,” said the Gerindra Party politician.
The desire to revive a state policy framework has in fact been circulating since the 2009-2014 MPR term, but deliberations have never been completed to this day.
Before the 1945 Constitution was amended for the third time in 2001, the state policy framework, known as the Broad Guidelines of State Policy (GBHN), was enshrined in the constitution. That amendment also removed the MPR’s authority as the mandate-holder of the People’s Consultative Assembly and its power to issue decrees.
Following the third amendment, the House of Representatives passed Law Number 25 of 2004 on the National Development Planning System. This law governs the national policy framework in matters of national development.
Plans for a fifth amendment to the Constitution resurfaced in 2024, after the then MPR Chairman Bambang Soesatyo carried out a National Reconciliation Tour, meeting a number of state figures and political parties.
In his meeting with Amien Rais, the MPR leadership discussed the prospects of an amendment concerning changes to the governance of presidential and vice-presidential candidate selection.
The discussion of possible changes to the selection of presidential and vice-presidential candidates has drawn attention from political parties. Andi Alfian Mallarangeng, Secretary of the Democratic Party’s Supreme Assembly, considered the proposal to return the MPR’s authority to elect the president outdated and ahistorical.
“This nation has come a long way in terms of democracy, namely that the president is elected directly by the people through a general election,” Andi said when contacted by Tempo on 9 June 2024.