DPR-KPU Approve PKPU Candidate For Regional Head Accommodation Of Constitutional Court Decision

The Hearing Meeting (RDP) of Commission II of the DPR RI, KPU, and the Government on Sunday with the single agenda of discussing the Draft PKPU Number 8 of 2024 at the Parliament Complex, Senayan, Jakarta, Sunday (25/8/2024). (ANTARA)

JAKARTA - Commission II of the DPR together with the General Election Commission (KPU) of the Republic of Indonesia and the government approved the draft KPU Regulation (PKPU) Number 8 of 2024 concerning the nomination of regional heads that accommodate the decision of the Constitutional Court (MK).

The approval was taken at the Commission II Hearing Meeting (RDP) of the DPR RI, KPU, and the government on Sunday, August 25 with the single agenda of discussing the PKPU Draft Number 8 of 2024, which accommodates the Constitutional Court Decision Number 60/PUU-XXII/2024 and Number 70/PUU-XXII/2024.

"The House of Representatives Commission II together with the Indonesian Ministry of Law and Human Rights, Ministry of Home Affairs, KPU RI, Bawaslu RI and DKPP RI approved the PKPU draft regarding changes to PKPU Number 8 of 2024 concerning the Candidacy of Governors and Deputy Governors, Regents and Deputy Regents, as well as Mayors and Deputy Mayors. Can we agree? Agree? Alhamdulillah," said Chairman of Commission II of the House of Representatives Ahmad Doli Kurnia who led the RDP at the Parliament Complex, Senayan, Jakarta as quoted from ANTARA, Sunday 25 August.

He emphasized that the PKPU draft Number 8 of 2024 has fully accommodated the Constitutional Court's decision Number 60/PUU-XXII/2024 and Number 70/PUU-XXII/2024.

"We both know that the PKPU draft on changes to PKPU Number 8, has accommodated, nothing less, nothing more than the decisions of the Constitutional Court Number 60 and 70," he said.

The RDP which started at around 10.00 WIB was also attended by the Chairman of the Indonesian KPU Mochammad Afifuddin, Chairman of the Indonesian Bawaslu Rahmat Bagja, Chairman of the Indonesian DKPP Heddy Lugito, Minister of Law and Human Rights Supratman Andi Agtas, and representatives of the Ministry of Home Affairs.

Previously, the Chairman of the Indonesian KPU Mochammad Afifuddin explained the reasons for the Hearing Meeting (RDP) with Commission II of the DPR to consult the draft KPU Regulation (PKPU) Number 8 of 2024 Regional Head Candidacy was moved forward to Sunday due to urgent time.

He said the RDP was moved forward from what was originally scheduled for Monday (26/8/2024) so that the KPU has time to make derivative rules.

"(Because) Time. We also need to then have more time to convey it to the ranks, also including the dynamics that take place to then reduce it in the form of technical guidelines (technical instructions) and so on," Afif said before the meeting began at the Parliament Complex, Senayan, Jakarta, Sunday.

Earlier Thursday (22/8), the DPR RI canceled the ratification of the Pilkada Bill (RUU). The Plenary Meeting with the agenda for ratifying the Pilkada Bill on Thursday (22/8) was postponed because the number of meeting participants did not reach the quorum, following demonstrations in various regions that rejected the Pilkada Bill.

The Pilkada Bill reaps pros and cons because it is considered briefly discussed on Wednesday (21/8) by the Legislation Body of the DPR RI and the Government. The discussion was deemed not in accordance with the Constitutional Court's decision which was decided on Tuesday (20/8) related to the regional elections, namely Decision Number 60/PUU/XXII/2024 and Number 70/PUU-XXII/2024.

The Constitutional Court's decision Number 60/PUU/XXII/2024 changes the threshold for the nomination of political parties or coalitions of political parties to carry the pairs of candidates for regional heads and candidates for deputy regional heads.

The Constitutional Court 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 (MA) decision interpretation which stated that the age limit was calculated since the elected candidate pair was sworn in.