JAKARTA - The General Chair of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP) Megawati Soekarnoputri emphasized that her party rejected the discourse of indirectly electing regional heads (pilkada) through the DPRD. This rejection is referred to as an attitude based on the constitution referring to the Constitutional Court (MK) Decision Number 110/PUU-XXIII/2025.
"PDI Perjuangan rejects any discourse on the election of regional heads indirectly through the DPRD. This rejection is not merely a practical political attitude. This is an ideological attitude, a constitutional attitude, and a historical attitude," Megawati said in a closing speech at the 2026 PDI Perjuangan National Congress in Jakarta, Monday, January 12.
Megawati emphasized that the election through the DPRD was contrary to the principle of people's sovereignty and the spirit of the 1998 Reformasi. "This means that the election must be carried out directly by the people, not indirectly through the DPRD," said the 5th President of the Republic of Indonesia.
"Thus, the discussion of the Pilkada through the DPRD is not only contrary to the spirit of reform, but also contrary to the Constitutional Court's final and binding decision," he continued.
Megawati said the direct Pilkada was an important achievement of national democratization after reformasi. This mechanism was born from the long struggle of the people to reclaim their political rights after decades of being constrained by the centralism of power.
On the other hand, the mechanism through the DPRD is considered a past practice that does not guarantee accountability of power. So, PDIP will be in front of protecting the rights of the people.
"This is part of our ideological commitment to keep democracy from going backwards. Reforms are not to be canceled slowly. Reforms must be maintained, strengthened, and improved," he said.
As previously reported, PDIP has issued an external recommendation from the 2026 I National Congress. The party founded by Megawati Soekarnoputri emphasized the importance of regional heads being directly elected by the people.
"The first National Congress of the Party emphasizes the importance of safeguarding the sovereignty of the people to determine their leaders through the implementation of direct elections to strengthen the legitimacy and certainty of a fixed term of five years," said the Chairman of the PDIP DPD Aceh Province, Jamaluddin Idham, when reading the points of recommendation at the Beach City International Stadium (BCIS), Jakarta, Monday, January 12.
Instead of being chosen by the DPRD, PDIP recommends transforming the voting system and strengthening the integrity of the organizer. So, the quality of democracy can continue to be maintained.
"The first National Congress of the Party encourages the implementation of low-cost elections, including implementing e-voting, enforcing laws for electoral violations such as money politics, and preventing the financing of candidate recommendations or political dowry," said Jamaluddin.
Apart from the issue of financing, the points of recommendation also emphasize the importance of limiting campaign costs and the professionalism of election organizers. Jamaluddin said that a clean pilkada system would produce leaders who were truly dedicated to the welfare of the people, not for capital supporters.
"Every stage of the election must ensure that sovereignty is in the hands of the people, not in the hands of capital power. With strict enforcement of the law against money politics, we maintain the integrity of our democracy," he said.
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