Constitutional Problem Parameters in Determining the Special Status of Surakarta

The proposal to designate Surakarta as a Special Region has reignited debates within the realm of Indonesian constitutional law. This study aims to examine the legal policy direction of the proposal by assessing its compatibility with the principles of constitutional justice and decentralization. The research employs a normative juridical approach and comparative analysis with other special regions, such as Yogyakarta and Aceh. The findings indicate that the absence of explicit legal parameters in Article 18B paragraph (1) of the 1945 Constitution opens space for the politicization of history and the influence of local elite interests. This study proposes two key recommendations: first, the urgency of enacting a specific law that outlines formal legal criteria for special status; second, the importance of developing a regional distinctiveness index as a data-based evaluative instrument. The study concludes that recognition of special status must be grounded in objective standards to ensure equitable decentralization and avoid symbolic, short-term political interests.