Indonesian election regulation controversy

Controversy has emerged regarding Article 18, paragraph (3) of KPU Regulation (PKPU) Number 19 of 2023, specifically concerning educational documentation requirements for presidential and vice-presidential candidates.

Former KPU Chairman Hasyim Asy’ari denied allegations that these regulations were tailored to facilitate Gibran Rakabuming Raka’s 2024 vice-presidential candidacy. Asy’ari maintained that the norms were formulated through public testing and consultations with the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Law before the Constitutional Court’s ruling on age requirements. He emphasized that the rules apply to all candidates.

However, former KPU commissioner Hadar Nafiz Gumai and former DPR Commission II Chairman Ahmad Doli Kurnia have raised concerns that the specific provision was not present in early drafts or during public testing in September 2023. Gumai suggested the clause emerged during the harmonization process at the Ministry of Law and Human Rights without transparent discussion. Kurnia has called for an explanation regarding the ‘smuggled clause’ and why it was not presented during hearings with the DPR.