MA Changes The Age Requirements For Candidates For Regional Heads, NasDem: No Need To Fix The Rules

Chairman of the Party Leadership Council (DPP) NasDem Sugeng Suparwoto criticized the Supreme Court's (MA) decision to change the minimum age requirement for regional head candidates.

The decision drew the spotlight because it has the potential to pass President Joko Widodo's youngest son, Kaesang Pangarep, to run as a candidate for governor-deputy governor in the 2024 Pilkada who has just entered the age of 30 in December.

The previous rule was that the cagub-cawagub age limit was at least 30 years when registering for the regional elections. Meanwhile, the Supreme Court changed it to a minimum of 30 years at the time of the inauguration.

"In our opinion, no need, it's all, everyone (in) quotes, outsmarting the rules solely so that Badu Sutonoyo, Dadapwaru, can nominate. Unfortunately, if that's the case," said Sugeng at NasDem Tower, Central Jakarta, Thursday, May 30.

According to Sugeng, there is no need for other efforts to change the rules in order to smooth the interests of a handful of people, after the decision of the Constitutional Court (MK) to pass Gibran Rakabuming Raka became the vice presidential candidate for the 2024 election.

"I'm sorry I have to express it. That's enough yesterday. Enough. It's really expensive for phsyological social fees," he said.

It is known, the Supreme Court granted the request of the General Chairperson of the Garuda Party, Ahmad Ridha Sabana. This is related to the age limit for regional heads at least 30 years to be revoked.

The decision was contained in Decision Number 23 P/HUM/2024, which was decided by the Chairman of the Yulius Assembly, with Member of Assembly 1 Bright Bangun and Member of Assembly 2 Yodi Martono. For information, the minimum age limit for Cagub and Cawagub as stated in Article 4 Paragraph (1) letter d of General Election Commission Regulation (PKPU) Number 9 of 2020, the Supreme Court stated, is contrary to Law (UU) Number 10 of 2016.

From this decision, the Supreme Court has changed what was originally Cagub and Cawagub were at least 30 years old, which has been calculated since the appointment of candidates to be after the inauguration.

On that basis, the Supreme Court asked the KPU to revoke Article 4 Paragraph (1) letter d of PKPU Number 9 concerning the Nomination of the Election of Governors and Deputy Governors, Regents and Deputy Regents, and/or Mayors and Deputy Mayors.