ZOAHARIAN.COM – The debate regarding the term of office of the Chief of the Indonesian National Police (Kapolri) at the Constitutional Court (MK) has finally reached its final point. The lawsuit that previously asked for the National Police Chief's term of office to be limited to a maximum of five years and could only be extended once was officially withdrawn by the applicants.

The case was registered under Number 315/PUU-XXIV/2026 and was filed by Lisdawati Manao and Saras Sandiyanto. The petitioners previously questioned the provisions regarding the term of office of the National Police Chief and asked for a stricter time limit in the law.

However, before the matter entered the stage of examination of the main application, the applicants chose to withdraw their lawsuit.

Chief Justice of the Constitutional Court Suhartoyo delivered the decision at the decision pronouncement hearing at the Constitutional Court Building, Jakarta.

"The decision granted the withdrawal of the petitioners' petition," said Suhartoyo.

With this decision, the Constitutional Court did not continue to examine the substance of the lawsuit regarding limiting the term of office of the National Police Chief.

The term of office of the National Police Chief is not a place for speculation

The withdrawal of this lawsuit received attention from legal observer at Bhayangkara University, Jakarta, Edi Saputra Hasibuan. According to him, the applicant's decision to withdraw the application should be respected.

Edi believes that the issue of the National Police Chief's term of office basically cannot be separated from the legal policies of the legislators and the constitutional authority of the President.

He reminded that the issue of the National Police Chief's term of office should not develop into political or legal speculation that has no basis.

"We respect the withdrawal of the request. The term of office of the National Police Chief is not room for speculation, because the arrangements must be subject to the law and the President's constitutional authority," said Edi, Tuesday (8/9/2026).

The former member of Kompolnas for the 2012–2016 period also emphasized that the President has the authority to determine the continuity of the position of National Police Chief as long as the decision has a clear legal basis.

The President Has a Determining Role

According to Edi, if legal provisions still provide space and the President still considers that the National Police Chief is needed to carry out his duties, then the continuation of his term of office can be carried out in accordance with applicable regulations.

"As long as it is legally possible and the President still needs a National Police Chief, an extension of the term of office can be carried out in accordance with applicable regulations," he stressed.

This statement also makes it clear that the issue of the National Police Chief's term of office is not solely determined through the discourse of a five-year limit, but must look at the applicable legal construction and the authority of each state institution.

The withdrawal of case Number 315/PUU-XXIV/2026 also caused the polemic of limiting the term of office of the National Police Chief through the judicial review route at the Constitutional Court to temporarily end.

Now, attention is again focused on how the provisions regarding the position of National Police Chief are carried out in accordance with the applicable legal framework and how the President uses his authority in determining the continuity of leadership within the National Police.