<![CDATA[In essence, democracy can be defined as a system of government in which political decisions are made by the people or citizens either directly or through their elected representatives in general elections. The election of regional heads is one of the primary mechanisms for realizing popular sovereignty at the local level. Since 2005, Indonesia has implemented a system of direct elections for regional heads by the people as part of the post-reform era's direct democracy. By the end of 2025, the discourse on the idea of reverting regional elections to being conducted through the Regional People's Representative Council (DPRD) rather than through general elections as originally established-will gain momentum. Based on this background, the author aims to discuss the following: The election of regional heads through the Regional People's Representative Council (DPRD) is examined in light of the principles of democracy in Indonesia, and the implications of such elections on the quality of democracy and the legitimacy of regional leadership in Indonesia. This study employs normative research methods, utilizing legislative, conceptual, and historical approaches to examine the legal basis, relevance, and implications of the regional head election system conducted by the DPRD. The study found that the principle of democracy is not solely interpreted as the direct participation of the people in determining regional leaders, but can also be realized through the mechanism of representative democracy, where the Regional People's Representative Council (DPRD) as an institution resulting from general elections-possesses the legitimacy to represent the will of the people. However, the mechanism for electing regional heads through the DPRD faces significant challenges regarding the fulfillment of the principles of popular sovereignty, political participation, and accountability.]]>
