Gerindra Calls Constitutional Court Decision Opens Opportunities For Gibran To Accompany Prabowo's Vice Presidential Candidate

Sufmi Dasco Ahmad (Photo: DOK ANTARA)

JAKARTA - Gerindra Party Daily Chair Sufmi Dasco Ahmad stated that his party respects the decision of the Constitutional Court (MK) which granted case lawsuit number 90/PUU-XXI/2023 regarding the minimum age of vice presidential candidates (cawapres) in Law Number 7 of 2017 concerning Elections. "In principle, we respect the newly read Constitutional Court's decision, namely in the number 90 lawsuit which was partially granted, that the Constitutional Court decided that despite the 40 year age limit, it would then allow officials or regional heads or state administrators who were elected through direct elections including regional elections to become presidential and vice presidential candidates," said Dasco at the Parliament Complex, Senayan, Jakarta, Monday, October 16. "Of course, what was decided by the Constitutional Court was final and binding, and of course it was carried out immediately," he continued. Not only for the Mayor of Solo, Gibran Rakabuming Raka, Dasco emphasized that the Constitutional Court's decision opens up opportunities for regional heads who are currently serving or former regional heads who are not yet 40 years old to contest the upcoming 2024 presidential election. It is known that currently Gibran is being discussed as a strong candidate as a vice presidential candidate for Prabowo Subianto. The Constitutional Court's decision is also touted as a step to pass Gibran to participate in the presidential election. "Of course, with the Constitutional Court's decision, it will not only open up opportunities for Gibran, but for regional heads who are currently serving or former regional heads who are directly elected by the regional elections, such as the presidential election, there is also an opportunity to become president and vice president," said the deputy chairman of the DPR. Previously, the Constitutional Court (MK) granted part of the UNS student lawsuit, Almas Tsaqibbirru Re A, which requested that the presidential/cawapres candidate be at least 40 years old or experienced as regional head. "Granted a request for part," said Chief Justice of the Constitutional Court Anwar Usman during a trial at the Constitutional Court Building, Monday, October 16. The Constitutional Court decided that the presidential candidate requirement was to be 40 years old or regional head who was or had been elected by general election.

"The Constitutional Court is of the opinion that regional heads deserve to participate in the contestation in the election even though they are not yet 40 years old. This means that as long as they are under 40 years old or are in positions elected through elections, they should be able to participate in the contestation of presidential and vice presidential candidates," said judge MK Guntur Hamzah.