Jadi Peserta Demo Tolak Anulir Putusan MK, Eks Menag: Demi Demokrasi Taati Konstitusi

Masses of students demonstrationd the ratification of the revision of the Pilkada Law in the back of the DPR Building this afternoon. (Nailin-VOI)

JAKARTA - Former Minister of Religion (Menag) Lukman Hakim Saifuddin also voiced his support for the decision of the Constitutional Court (MK) related to the Regional Head Election Law (UU Pilkada). "We convey that we continue to support the Constitutional Court and we still hope that the Constitutional Court will continue to oversee the constitution for the sake of democracy that must be maintained and to maintain democracy, we must obey the constitution," said Lukman in front of the Constitutional Court Building, Central Jakarta, Thursday. Lukman said that a well-run democracy can guarantee the existence of Indonesia. So, every state institution should have the authority of each President or DPR. "The implementation of this authority must not deny the constitution. Because only through democracy can a very diverse nation like Indonesia be maintained, can be maintained properly. If democracy does not exist, then the majority law and practice will emerge and it is very unhealthy and it will demean humanity," explained Lukman. Moreover, said Lukman, the Constitutional Court is the only state institution that has the authority to maintain and oversee the constitution. So the Constitutional Court's decision should be obeyed by all parties. On the same occasion, Spokesperson for the Constitutional Court (MK) Fajar Laksono ensured that the constitutional guard institution was not disturbed by the polemic of the Pilkada Draft Law (RUU) which was currently rolling. Fajar, who is also the Head of the Legal and Administrative Bureau of the Constitutional Court, explained that all trial agendas in the Constitutional Court continue as they should be. "If I see everything running. All agendas are running, the scheduled trial is running, nothing is disturbed, everything is running at the Constitutional Court. All trials are running, judges are on trial, the parties are also called to come to trial," said Fajar. On Tuesday, August 20, the Constitutional Court decided two crucial decisions related to the stages of nomination of regional heads, namely Decision Number 60/PUU/XXII/2024 and 70/PUU-XXII/2024. Decision Number 60/PUU/XXII/2024 changes the threshold for nominating political parties or coalitions of political parties to nominate pairs of candidates for regional heads and candidates for deputy regional heads. Decision Number 70/PUU-XXII/2024 confirms that the minimum age limit for regional head candidates is calculated since the determination of candidate pairs by the General Elections Commission (KPU).

The decision invalidated the previous Supreme Court decision which stated that the age limit was calculated since the elected candidate pair was sworn in. However, on Wednesday (21/8), the Legislation Body of the DPR RI and the government agreed to continue the discussion of the Draft Law (RUU) on the Fourth Amendment to Law Number 1 of 2015 or the Pilkada Bill at the nearest DPR plenary meeting to be ratified into law. There are two crucial materials for the Pilkada Bill that were agreed in the Panja Meeting of the Pilkada Bill. First, the adjustment of article 7 of the Pilkada Law regarding the terms of age of candidacy in accordance with the decision of the Supreme Court. Second, amendments to article 40 by accommodating some decisions of the Constitutional Court which amend the provisions of the election nomination threshold by imposing only for non-parliamentary parties or not having seats in the DPRD.