Several prominent coalition figures had proposed the election delay and the extension of President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo’s term beyond 2024, changes that would require a constitutional amendment.  

The PDI-P, of which President Jokowi is a member, has strongly rejected these proposals, despite apparent support for them from the President’s inner circle and the Golkar Party, the nation’s second-largest party. 

In an about-face, the PDI-P called on Wednesday for a pause on its own initiative to amend the 1945 Constitution to grant the MPR greater power to formulate and enforce “state policy guidelines” intended to set the country’s long-term development priorities, an authority similar to one held by the institution under the Soeharto regime.

"As chairman of the PDI-P faction in the MPR, I have given direction to the MPR assessment agency to continue studies […] to develop the concept of state policy guidelines in a more substantive and comprehensive manner as recommendation materials for the MPR’s incoming period," Ahmad Basarah told reporters.

"Amendments to the 1945 Constitution should not be carried out while the nation’s psychological state is not conducive [to such changes] – in which there exists suspicion of fellow components of the nation and of the interests of certain individuals and groups," Basarah said.

He said the MPR remained committed to discussing the substance of the state policy guidelines but would produce only a recommendation that the assembly would consider in its next sitting period.

Read also: ‘Limited’ constitutional amendment push sparks criticism

The PDI-P had backed plans for the guidelines following its congresses in 2016 and 2019. Party chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri had voiced concern about the disconnect between inconstant national policy and long-term development goals.

The MPR amended the Constitution four times from 1999 to 2002 to limit the power of the president and ensure stronger state checks and balances by redistributing power among the executive, legislature and judiciary.

Game changer

The PDI-P’s call for a pause came after other parties within the ruling coalition – allegedly at the behest of Jokowi’s inner circle – proposed that the 2024 general election be delayed by constitutional amendment.

The parties in support of the delay included Golkar, the National Awakening Party (PKB) and the National Mandate Party (PAN).

Analysts have said the PDI-P – with 128 House seats, the most of any party – could have a strong influence on the stances of other members of the coalition.

Read also: Lobbying for election delay intensifies

MPR assessment agency chairman Djarot Saiful Hidayat, also a PDI-P member, said the agency was still studying the state policy guidelines concept and reviewing three options for their introduction: a constitutional amendment, an MPR decree and a law.

"We are finalizing the study. Around 80 percent of the material has been compiled. We hope it will be finished next month and can be submitted to the MPR leadership after Idul Fitri [in May],” Djarot told The Jakarta Post on Friday. 

Djarot denied that there had been any studies on postponing the election or extending the presidential term limit. He said the agency had only researched the state policy guidelines issue.

 

Not for ‘short-term interests’

MPR Deputy Speaker Arsul Sani of the United Development Party (PPP) said his party preferred no amendment at all to one laden with other agenda items.

“As originally planned, the amendment was only to grant the MPR the authority to formulate state policy guidelines. If other things are to be included, it would be better to have no amendment,” Arsul said.

Read also: 2024 polls hang in balance, again

Arsul said his party did not want to rush the amendment and that the process should allow for transparency and public participation.

“The PPP does not want the amendment to be carried out only to accommodate short-term interests. If it did, when there are short-term interests from the majority of power holders, amending the Constitution would be a very easy matter,” Arsul said. 

Regional Representative Council (DPD) Speaker La Nyalla Mahmud Mattalitti said previously that the institution opposed both the proposed postponement of the election and the extension of the presidential term.

“As of now, the DPD has not issued any official views regarding a proposed amendment to the 1945 Constitution, but some members have rejected the discourse on postponing the election or extending the term of office of the president,” DPD deputy speaker Mahyudin told the Post on Friday.