This study aims to analyze, from a legal perspective, the rights of members of the Papua Representative Council (DPRP) appointed under the Special Autonomy framework to nominate candidates for Governor and Deputy Governor in regional elections in Papua Province. This type of research is normative juridical, using a statutory approach. The legal materials used consist of three types: primary legal materials, secondary legal materials, and tertiary legal materials. Primary legal materials include central and regional legislation, particularly the Papua Special Autonomy Law, the Second Amendment to the Papua Special Autonomy Law, and Government Regulation No. 106 of 2021. Secondary legal materials consist of research findings on Special Autonomy that have been published in academic journals. Tertiary legal materials include references such as the Kamus Besar Bahasa Indonesia (KBBI). The findings of this study indicate that (1) Both elected and appointed members of the DPRP hold equal status in terms of duties, authority, and function as representatives of the people at the regional level. However, in terms of the right to nominate candidates for Governor and Deputy Governor in the regional elections within the context of Special Autonomy in Papua Province, appointed DPRP members do not have equal status with elected DPRP members. (2) Although the appointed DPRP members meet the numerical requirements to propose candidates for Governor and Deputy Governor, they are not granted such rights under Law No. 21 of 2001 concerning Special Autonomy for Papua Province, its Second Amendment through Law No. 2 of 2021, or Law No. 1 of 2015 concerning Regional Head Elections.
Yusak Elisa Reba (Wed,) studied this question.