Call The Norma Court, Anwar Usman Makes Sure Not To Resign From The Vice Presidential Age Decision

JAKARTA - Chief Justice of the Constitutional Court (MK), Anwar Usman, denied any conflict of interest in handling and deciding the case of the presidential and vice presidential age limit. Therefore, Anwar Usman admitted that he would not withdraw from the case.

Constitutional Court Decision Number 90/PUU-XXI/2023 concerning material testing against the provisions of Article 169 letter q of Law Number 7 of 2017 concerning Elections which regulates the age limit for presidential and vice-presidential candidates of at least 40 years.

"Oh no (resign), this is a norm court, not a fact court," Anwar Usman told reporters at the Constitutional Court Building, Jakarta, Tuesday, October 31.

According to Anwar Usman, he was involved in deciding case Number 90/PUU-XXI/2023 because it was related to the norms that apply to all Indonesian citizens. He emphasized that the case was not related to his nephew Gibran Rakabuming Raka, who is currently one of the candidates for vice president.

"Who is the interest? This is a norm court, all Indonesians, the Indonesian people," said Usman.

Regarding the alleged violation of the code of ethics, Anwar Usman submitted it to the Honorary Council of the Constitutional Court (MKMK) who was investigating this matter. "Later, we will wait for the results of the Constitutional Court," concluded Anwar Usman.

It is known, today, Anwar Usman and other constitutional judges have begun to be examined one by one by the Honorary Council of the Constitutional Court (MKMK) regarding alleged violations of the code of ethics in the handling process until they decide on the matter test case Number 90/PUU-XXI/2023.

"Yes, asking as in the news of the brothers and sisters, it was confirmed," he said.

Anwar Usman also denied lobbying to smooth out the decision on the age limit for presidential and vice-presidential candidates who became polemic among the community. With the composition of the Constitutional Court judges as it is today, it is not possible to lobby. "Bah! Yes, then the decision is at that time, okay? Nothing, what kind of lobbying. Have you read the verdict yet? Yes, that's it," he said.

It is known that the 90/PUU-XXI/2023 case is related to the judicial review of Article 169 letter q in Law Number 7 of 2017 concerning Elections. In its decision, the Constitutional Court added a new norm, believing that the minimum age requirements for presidential and vice presidential candidates are 40 years old or have been / are serving as regional heads.

However, the decision was not taken unanimously. The decision to partially grant this was approved by 5 Constitutional Court judges, namely Anwar Usman, Manahan Sitompul, Guntur Hamzah, Enny Nurbaningsih, and Daniel Yusmic. Of the 5 judges, judges Enny Nurbaningsih and Daniel Yusmic have different reasons in their considerations.

Meanwhile, 4 different constitutional judges, namely Wahiduddin Adams, Saldi Isra, Arief Hidayat, and Suhartoyo. The four of them considered the lawsuit worthy of rejection.