Jimly Asshiddiqie Meets Airlangga, Discusses Amendments To Question Rights

JAKARTA - Former Chief Justice of the Constitutional Court (MK) Jimly Asshiddiqie met with the Coordinating Minister for the Economy and General Chair of the Golkar Party Airlangga Hartarto at the office of the Coordinating Ministry for the Economy.

In his meeting, Jimly discussed many things with Airlangga, starting from the evaluation of the political system, the 5th amendment to the 1945 Constitution to the right of inquiry in the election.

"We discussed various issues, including I think the current momentum can not be used to make people move on. We invite the public to think about the future, improving the system, including if it is agreed that it will be the idea of changing the 5th Constitution," said Jimly as quoted by ANTARA, Monday, February 20.

Jimly expressed his concern about the current political conditions. According to him, there needs to be an evaluation of reforms that are 25 years old. He highlighted the 20 percent threshold system that needs to be reviewed. This is in order to create a fairer political climate.

"Partai yang punya status sebagai peserta Pemilu berhak mengajukan calon, tidak perlu pakaithreshold-threshold-an. Jadi yang capresnya jangan hanya orang Jateng, Jatim, Jabar, orang Palembang seperti saya juga bisa. Masalah nggak menang ya apa-apa. Jadi banyak, dari Papua, dari Bugis, itu antara lain yang saya bahas," ujarnya.

The threshold system is the minimum threshold for the percentage of seat ownership in the DPR or the percentage of votes for political parties or coalitions of political parties to nominate the president and vice president.

In addition, Jimly also discussed the use of the right to inquiry that should be accepted by the government. The reason is, in the two terms of President Joko Widodo's leadership, none of the rights of inquiry have been used.

"But, with this right of inquiry, for example, it happened, I actually appreciate it so that in historical records, in the era of Jokowi's administration there is the right of inquiry to be used," explained Jimly.

During his meeting, Jimly also asked for views from Airlangga Hartarto in his capacity as General Chair of the Golkar Party regarding the possibility of implementing the 5th Amendment to the 1945 Constitution.

"I give this suggestion, as well as mitigate disappointment so that people move on, let's think ahead. The principle he agrees, but the timing he still doubts," he explained.