The Constitutional Court Be Careful In Accepting The Request To Present Minister Jokowi At The Presidential Election Dispute Session

MK/DOK Session BETWEEN PHOTOS/Aprillio Akbar/Spt.

JAKARTA - The Constitutional Court (MK) received a request to present a number of presidential ministers, Joko Widodo, in a hearing on the dispute over the results of the 2024 presidential election (PHPU).

Responding to this, Chief Justice of the Constitutional Court Suhartoyo admitted that the panel of judges would still pay close attention to granting or not the request.

"When the court helps call, there will be a wedge with that side. So, you have to be careful," Suhartoyo said during a trial at the Constitutional Court building, Thursday, March 28.

However, Suhartoyo did not rule out the opportunity to summon the ministers of the Advanced Indonesia Cabinet as long as the panel of judges needed information from the person concerned.

"Witnesses or experts, later courts must be careful about the essence of partiality. But courts can summon as long as necessary by the court. It could be that what was proposed was also necessary," he said.

The decision to grant or not is determined in the next judge's deliberation meeting (RPH).

During the trial, the Anies-Muhaimin camp asked the Constitutional Court to present four cabinet ministers Jokowi as witnesses to the trial. The ministers included Minister of Finance Sri Mulyani, Minister of Social Affairs Tri Rismaharini, Minister of Trade Zulkifli Hasan, and Coordinating Minister for the Economy Airlangga Hartarto.

"We have also submitted a request to the panel of judges, to be able to help present the Minister of Finance of the Republic of Indonesia, the Minister of Social Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia, the Coordinating Minister for the Economy of the Republic of Indonesia to hear his statement in this trial, Your Honor," said Head of the Anies-Muhaimin Legal Team, Ari Yusuf Amir.

This desire is supported by the Ganjar-Mahfud legal team. The Ganjar-Mahfud camp asked that at least the Constitutional Court could summon two Jokowi ministers who have the most important roles, namely Tri Rismaharini and Sri Mulyani.

"We also want to submit the same application. But because it has been submitted by applicant 1, we support what is conveyed by applicant 1, as well as the proposal of applicant 1 for the Minister of Social Affairs. At least these two ministries we consider very important, very vital, we ask the panel of judges to grant it," said Ganjar-Mahfud Legal Team, Todung Mulya Lubis.

A member of the Ganjar-Mahfid Legal Team, Maqdir Ismail, said that the two ministers would be asked for information regarding government policies under Jokowi's leadership during the 2024 election contestation period. In particular, regarding the use and procurement of social assistance or social assistance.

"What we convey our requests to present witnesses or experts from the ministry is a process of proof, especially related to policies that have been taken by the government. Because also the use of social assistance from the APBN and APBN belongs to all of us, not to certain people," said Maqdir.