Chief Justice Of The Constitutional Court Ensures Independent Termination Of The Age Limit Of The Presidential And Vice Presidential Candidates: I Was Sumpt On Sitting Here, By Allah

Chief Justice of the Constitutional Court Anwar Usman (right)/ANTARA PHOTO/RENO ESNIR

JAKARTA - Chief Justice of the Constitutional Court (MK) Anwar Usman ensures that he is independent in deciding the matter test case for the age limit of the presidential candidate (candidate) and the vice presidential candidate (cawapres) which are currently rolling.

"Thank you Mr. Sunandiantoro for reminding me specifically as the Chief Justice of the Constitutional Court. This is why I was sworn in to sit here. By Allah," Anwar said in a follow-up hearing on the judicial review of Law Number 7 of 2017 concerning General Elections (UU Pemilu) at the Constitutional Court Building, Jakarta, reported by ANTARA, Tuesday, August 29.

Sunandiantoro is the legal representative of parties related to Evi Anggita and his friends in case Number 29/PUU-XXI/2023 submitted by the Indonesian Solidarity Party (PSI).

Initially, Sunandiantoro said the application submitted by PSI which wanted Article 169 letter q of the Election Law to be interpreted as a pair of presidential and vice-presidential candidates aged at least 35 years, had caused wild interpretations in society.

He explained that one of the wild interpretations of the petition was the form of President Joko Widodo's (Jokowi) ambition to pass his son, Gibran Rakabuming Raka, who is currently serving as Mayor of Solo to be able to run as vice president.

Another wild interpretation, said Sunandiantoro, is related to Anwar Usman's kinship relationship as the husband of President Jokowi's younger brother, Idayati.

"His Majesty's status, the Chief Justice of the Constitutional Court who is the husband of Mrs. Idayati, namely the younger sister of President Joko Widodo, also did not escape the target of the illegal interpretation, so it was impressive that her kinship / kinship relationship had an impact on the considerations taken in deciding the a quo case," said Sunandiantoro.

However, Sunandiantoro said the related parties in the case believed that the wild opinion was not true and was only a dirty political movement.

"Of course we related parties believe that the wild public opinion is not true and only a series of dirty political movements are trying to destroy and play with the dignity of President Joko Widodo, the panel of judges at the Constitutional Court, and the Mayor of Solo Gibran Rakabuming Raka," he said.

Anwar Usman then responded to Sunandiantoro's statement. He made sure not to be influenced by the kinship relationship in deciding a case; as he gave an example of the story of the Prophet Muhammad.

"The Prophet Muhammad, his son stole, his own hands will be cut off by the Prophet Muhammad," said the Chief Justice of the Constitutional Court.

Anwar said that the court's decision was the result of a joint decision from nine constitutional judges who had equal voting rights in each case that was tried.

"And the nine of us have the same voting rights. The Constitutional Court's decision, not the decision of the Chief Justice of the Constitutional Court, yes. This is also for understanding for all, anyone who has an opinion as quoted by Sunandiantoro, "said Anwar.

The Chief Justice of the Constitutional Court also thanked Sunandiantoro for his statement.

"Thank you for providing understanding in general. More specifically, earlier reminded me and all those who had an opinion as stated by you," said Anwar.

The trial which was held openly to the public was a follow-up trial for cases Number 29, 51, and 55 of 2023. The three cases sued the same article, namely Article 169 letter q of the Election Law.

Case Number 55/PUU-XXI/2023 was submitted by the Mayor of Bukittinggi Erman Safar and the Deputy Regent of South Lampung Pandu Kesuma Dewangsa.

Erman Safar and Pandu Kesuma Dewangsa asked that the phrase "at least 40 years old" in this article be changed to "at least 40 years old or have experience as a state administrator".

Then, case Number 51/PUU-XXI/2023 was submitted by Garuda Party Chairman Ahmad Ridha Sabana and Garuda Party DPP Secretary General Yohananna Murtika.

In its petitum, Ahmad Ridha Sabana and Yohananna Murtika asked for the phrase "at least 40 years old" in the article to be "lowest 40 years old or experienced as regional head/deputy regional head".

Furthermore, case Number 29/PUU-XXI/2023, submitted by PSI, also sued the same article. In its petitum, PSI asks for the age limit of the presidential and vice presidential candidates to be changed to 35 years.