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🇮🇩 Indonesia /Elections & Politics

Indonesia's MPR Meets Constitutional Court on State Guidelines, Constitution Amendments

From Tempo · () Indonesian

Translated from Indonesian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • The Indonesian People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) visited the Constitutional Court to discuss the preparation of state policy guidelines (PPHN) and amendments to the 1945 Constitution.
  • MPR Chairman Ahmad Muzani stated that President Prabowo Subianto cautioned the MPR to be careful and inclusive in drafting the PPHN and the fifth amendment.
  • The effort to revive state guidelines has been ongoing since the 2009-2014 MPR period, but discussions have not been completed, with some parties opposing the MPR's authority to elect the president.

The Indonesian People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) is seeking to involve the Constitutional Court in drafting the state policy guidelines (PPHN) and amending the 1945 Constitution. MPR Chairman Ahmad Muzani visited the Constitutional Court on July 9, 2026, to discuss these matters and the preparation for the annual session.

In the context of involving all elements, we discussed with the Constitutional Court and so on.

— Ahmad MuzaniAfter meeting with the leadership of the Constitutional Court on Wednesday, July 8, 2026.

Muzani conveyed that President Prabowo Subianto has urged the MPR to proceed cautiously and inclusively in drafting the PPHN and the fifth amendment. "The President warned us not to rush, and to absorb public aspirations and involve all elements in this process," Muzani stated, emphasizing the importance of careful consideration as amendments affect the lives of many in the nation's governance and democracy.

The aspiration to reinstate state guidelines, previously known as GBHN, has been a recurring topic since the 2009-2014 MPR period but has never reached completion. The third amendment to the 1945 Constitution in 2001 removed the MPR's authority to issue decrees and its role as the people's mandate holder. Subsequently, the government enacted Law Number 25 of 2004 on the National Development Planning System, which now governs state development guidelines.

The President warned us not to rush, and to absorb public aspirations and involve all elements in this process.

— Ahmad MuzaniReferring to President Prabowo Subianto's advice on drafting the PPHN and the fifth amendment.

Discussions about a potential fifth amendment resurfaced in 2024, following meetings between the then-MPR Chairman Bambang Soesatyo and various national figures. These discussions included the possibility of amending the electoral system for president and vice president. However, this proposal has met with opposition. The Democratic Party's Secretary of the High Council, Andi Alfian Mallarangeng, criticized the idea of restoring the MPR's authority to elect the president as outdated, stating, "This nation has moved far in terms of democracy, with the president being directly elected by the people through general elections."

This nation has moved far in terms of democracy, with the president being directly elected by the people through general elections.

— Andi Alfian MallarangengCommenting on the proposal to restore the MPR's authority to elect the president.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Tempo in Indonesian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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