Constitutional law expert Mahfud MD has voiced strong support for the proposed Presidential Institution Bill, calling it a crucial legal tool to curb potential abuse of presidential authority.

Speaking at a national seminar hosted by the Indonesia Islamic University (UII), he emphasized that Indonesia lacks a dedicated law governing the presidential institution − despite its critical role as both head of state and head of government.

“Since the New Order era, the idea of a Presidential Institution Law has been discussed. But it always gets shelved due to questions about its urgency, even though every other state institution already has its own legal framework,” Mahfud said on Thursday, April 24, 2025.

He argued that while the 1945 Constitution outlines presidential powers, it is insufficient in addressing administrative and constitutional challenges that arise in practice. Given recent political controversies, he believes the need for such a law is more pressing than ever.

Mahfud, who served as Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs from 2019 to 2024, cited ongoing “political acrobatics” by the presidential institution as a reason to formalize its boundaries and responsibilities through legislation.

The push for a Presidential Institution Law has gained renewed momentum, especially after discussions in the House of Representatives about revising Law No. 7/2017 on General Elections.

In April 2024, House’s Commission II Chairman Ahmad Doli Kurnia said that presidential conduct − particularly regarding the distribution of social aid and its political implications − must be addressed through legal reform.

"I think this should be part of our review in improving our political and electoral systems," Doli said on Thursday.

He noted that while legislative improvements to political and electoral laws have been on the agenda since 2019, progress was stalled by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Meanwhile, Constitutional Court Chief Justice Suhartoyo highlighted ongoing weaknesses in political legislation, including the Election Law, Corruption Eradication Commission (KPU) regulations, and General Elections Supervisory Agency (Bawaslu) guidelines.

The proposed Presidential Institution Bill is emerging as a key piece of legal reform to ensure greater transparency, accountability, and integrity within the executive branch.