Suhartoyo Reveals The Reason For Being Willing To Be The Chief Justice Of The Constitutional Court In The Middle Of The Polemic Of The Age Limit For Presidential And Vice Presidential Candidates

The closed deliberation meeting chaired by Constitutional Justice Saldi Isra appointed Suhartoyo as the new Chief Justice of the Constitutional Court, Thursday 9 November. (Diah-VOI)

JAKARTA - Constitutional Justice Suhartoyo explained his reasons for being willing to become Chief Justice of the Constitutional Court (MK) after being appointed from the results of the deliberation meeting on the consensus of the nine constitutional judges today.

Suhartoyo admitted that he was willing to lead the Constitutional Court to replace Anwar Usman on the grounds that he wanted to try to restore public trust after the polemic of the Constitutional Court's decision regarding the age limit for presidential and vice presidential candidates.

The Constitutional Court's decision to allow regional heads not yet 40 years old as presidential and vice-presidential candidates has made all Constitutional Court judges reported to the Honorary Council of the Constitutional Court (MKMK). In fact, the Constitutional Court was dubbed by some parties as "family commander".

"If he (the judges of the Constitutional Court) have given their trust, then (if) both of us also refuse, while in front of our eyes this constitutional court there is something that we must revive public trust. Based on this consideration, of course, to whom else if we do not accept the request, "said Suhartoyo at the Constitutional Court Building, Central Jakarta, Thursday, November 9.

Moreover, the change in position of the Chief Justice of the Constitutional Court was an order from the Constitutional Court's decision to dismiss Anwar Usman for violating the code of ethics on the decision on the age limit of the presidential and vice-presidential candidates.

Thus, the nine constitutional judges agreed to elect Suhartoyo as Chief Justice of the Constitutional Court and Saldi Isra as Deputy Chair of the Constitutional Court.

"He entrusted the two of us to become a kind of logo (MK). If then we don't want to withdraw it, who else? Is the Constitutional Court also allowed to stagnate? Meanwhile, all of my friends yesterday knew that there was a decision by the Constitutional Court which ordered the change of leadership of the Constitutional Court," said Suhartoyo.

The plan is for Suhartoyo to take an oath of office as Chief Justice of the Constitutional Court on Monday, November 13, 2023. This was revealed by Constitutional Justice Saldi Isra when announcing the results of the deliberation meeting in the main courtroom of the Constitutional Court building which was attended by all Constitutional judges.

"God willing, on Monday the oath will be taken in this room. Take the oath in this room. This means that starting Monday the composition of the management of the Constitutional Court will be fulfilled as usual," said Saldi.

Suhartoyo is a constitutional judge who has served since January 2015. Prior to his career at the Constitutional Court, Suhartoyo was a career judge in the general court with the last fullness at the Denpasar High Court.