Jakarta – A number of parties expressed their disappointment with the Constitutional Court’s decision, that a person who has served as a regional head or other state official elected through an election can run for president or vice president even though he is under 40 years old. The Constitutional Court’s decision is considered to be full of political interests.
Constitutional Law Expert, Prof. Dr. Ali Syafaat stated with great disappointment that it turned out that the Constitutional Court was openly able to be politicized for the interests of the authorities.
“So it betrays the people,” he said.
The Constitutional Court’s decision is considered to violate authority, where determining the requirements for presidential and vice presidential candidates is the legislative and executive mechanism as the law makers.
“The public is very disappointed with the Constitutional Court’s decision which should consistently reject all claims regarding the age limit for presidential and vice-presidential candidates,” emphasized the Supervisory Board of Pensiunem, Titi Anggraini.
Previously, Ray Rangkuti in a discussion held by PARA Syndicate explained that a recomposition between the opposition and government supporters might occur, making President Jokowi’s position even more complicated.
“Various protests on social media show the palace that people are not in a happy mood regarding the current situation,” said Ray.
According to Ray, there are other scenarios that deliberately want to encourage or allow or even facilitate Jokowi’s child to become vice presidential candidate.
On the same occasion, the Coordinator of the Indonesian Advocates Movement, Petrus Selestinus, said that the Constitutional Court was looking more and more like a “Family Court” with the close relationship between President Jokowi and the Chief Justice of the Constitutional Court, Anwar Usman.
“Especially ahead of the 2024 simultaneous elections, the Constitutional Court may face disputes regarding the results of the presidential and regional elections involving President Jokowi’s family,” said Petrus.
Ari Nurcahyo, as Executive Director of PARA Syndicate, said that the current political dynamics appear to be regulated by the relevant parties, and the public is starting to understand the politics that flow, although sometimes it is difficult to distinguish between what is real and what is fake.
“This discussion should be a reminder for those who are studying, to be careful with the use of power, especially considering Jokowi’s remaining term until October 2024 which seems confusing to many people,” he said.
On the other hand, the Gerindra Party’s push for Prabowo to pair up with Gibran is actually a form of provocation to bring down President Jokowi’s good name at the end of his term of office.
The public believes that there are provocateurs who are deliberately playing up the issue with the Prabowo-Gibran scheme as an undercurrent aspiration, where the Gerindra Party has played the politics of playing against each other between President Jokowi and PDIP.
For your information, the Constitutional Court (MK) granted lawsuit number 90/PUU-XXI/2023 regarding the minimum age of presidential candidates (capres) and vice presidential candidates (cawapres) in Law Number 7 of 2017 concerning Elections, the MK decided that someone who had serving as regional heads or other state officials who are elected through elections are declared able to run for president or vice president even if they are under 40 years old.