Jimly Calls The Constitutional Court's Decision Regarding The Age Limit For Presidential And Vice Presidential Candidates Intervened By Outside Parties, Who?

Chairman of the Honorary Council of the Constitutional Court (MKMK) Jimly Asshiddiqie (Diah Ayu/VOi)

JAKARTA - It was revealed that the decision of the Constitutional Court (MK) in case number 90/PUU-XXI/2023 which allowed regional heads not yet 40 years old to advance as presidential and vice-presidential candidates was intervened by outside parties.

The intervention of outside parties over the formulation of the Constitutional Court's decision was facilitated by Chief Justice of the Constitutional Court Anwar Usman, who is the uncle of the prospective vice presidential candidate Gibran Rakabuming Raka.

This was revealed by the Chairman of the Honorary Council of the Constitutional Court (MKMK) Jimly Asshiddiqie when reading the verdict on alleged violations of the code of ethics and behavior of constitutional judges on Tuesday, November 7.

"The reported judge was proven to have deliberately opened an outside intervention room in the decision-making process number 90/PUU-XXI/2023, thus violating Sapta Karsa Hutama, Independence Principle, Implementation of Numbers 1, 2, and 3," said Jimly.

This was supported by Anwar Usman's attitude involved in the judge's deliberation meeting (RPH) on the 90/PUU-XXI/2023 case, after previously being absent from the RPH of a similar material test case.

"The reported judge (Anwar Usman) did not resign from handling the 90/PUU-XXI/2023 case, even though in fact there was a conflict of interest, because the 90/PUU-XXI/2023 case was directly related to the interests of the reported judge's family, namely Gibran Rakabuming Raka," said Jimly.

After the Constitutional Court's decision hearing, Jimly was asked about who the outside party he mentioned in the reading of the decision was. However, the former Chief Justice of the Constitutional Court was reluctant to tell.

"Yes, that doesn't all have to be revealed. Anyway, we have found that it is an excuse to dismiss (Anwar Usman) from the chairman. That's all. Don't be too detailed, don't need everything, and the public also doesn't need to know everything because there's no point either. Later it will divide," explained Jimly.

In imposing sanctions, MKMK dismissed Anwar Usman from the position of Chief Justice of the Constitutional Court because he was proven to have committed serious violations related to the Constitutional Court's decision which allowed regional heads not yet 40 years old to run as presidential and vice-presidential candidates.

The Constitutional Court also ordered the Deputy Chief Justice of the Constitutional Court to lead the implementation of the new Constitutional Court leadership election within 2x24 hours.

The Constitutional Court also prohibits Anwar Usman, who is now a member of the Constitutional Court, from running for Chief Justice of the Constitutional Court until his term as constitutional judge ends.