The Constitutional Court (MK) has officially established a strategic policy through Decision Number 135/PUU-XXII/2024, altering Indonesia's political roadmap starting in 2029. This ruling marks the end of the five-ballot simultaneous election era, which previously combined national and regional elections, by separating them into two distinct categories.
Under the new scheme, National Elections will focus on the election of the President, Vice President, and central-level legislative members, namely the House of Representatives (DPR RI) and the Regional Representative Council (DPD RI). Meanwhile, regional head elections (Governors, Regents, Mayors) along with regional legislative members (DPRD) will be conducted separately, with a gap of approximately two to two and a half years after the completion of the national elections.
This change is viewed as the most significant electoral reform since 1998. One of the Court's crucial considerations was to ensure that strategic regional issues are not diluted by the dominance of national political narratives. Furthermore, this system will limit the coattail effect, requiring local legislative candidates and regional heads to be more independent and focus on resolving concrete issues in their respective regions.
However, this policy is not without complex challenges. Analysts assess that separating the election schedules could potentially increase political costs for parties, as they will have to run their electoral machinery twice in different periods. The risk of more pervasive money politics and the need for acting regional heads to fill transitional terms are key concerns requiring strict regulation to avoid damaging democratic legitimacy at the local level.
In the long run, this Constitutional Court decision creates space for regional heads to emerge with more independent legitimacy, potentially creating a dynamic balance of power between the central and regional governments. Political parties are now faced with the demand to strengthen their local grassroots, as national-level victory will no longer guarantee absolute dominance in the regions.
