<![CDATA[The mechanism for electing regional heads in Indonesia has long been a subject of constitutional debate, particularly concerning whether regional heads must be elected directly by the people or may instead be elected through representative institutions, such as Regional People's Representative Councils (DPRD). Article 18 paragraph (4) of the 1945 Constitution stipulates that governors, regents, and mayors are elected democratically, but does not explicitly prescribe a specific electoral mechanism. This constitutional provision has consequently generated diverse interpretations among scholars and policymakers regarding the meaning and scope of democratic elections at the regional level. This article examines the constitutional legitimacy of regional head elections conducted by DPRD within the framework of representative democracy. This study employs normative legal research using constitutional and conceptual approaches, with analysis based on textual, systematic, and teleological interpretations of the relevant constitutional provisions. The study further examines democratic legitimacy through the theoretical perspectives of political representation, accountability, and democratic governance. The findings indicate that regional head elections conducted by DPRD may be constitutionally legitimate, as DPRD members derive their authority from democratic elections and function as representatives of the people. Nevertheless, this mechanism raises concerns regarding public political participation, the potential dominance of political elites, and institutional accountability in local governance. Accordingly, the preservation of democratic legitimacy requires adequate institutional safeguards, transparency, and effective public oversight to ensure that representative electoral mechanisms remain accountable to citizens.]]>
