The Constitutional Court (MK) judicially reviewed Law Number 31 of 2002 regarding Political Parties particularly Article 2 Paragraph (3) Sub-paragraph b on Tuesday (13/11) at 10.00 hours West Indonesia Time (WIB) at the Panel 1 Hearing Room of the Building of the Constitutional Court of the Republic, at Jalan Medan Merdeka Barat No. 6, Central Jakarta with an agenda of the Examination of the Revised Petition.

Present in the hearing were the Petitioners, namely Lieus Sungkharisma (The General Chairman of the Indonesian Chinese Reform Party/PARTI) and Vice Admiral (Ret.) Sumitro (The Secretary General of PARTI).

In the principal case (petitum) of the revised petition, the Petitioners request so that the Constitutional Court decides that Article 2 Paragraph (3) Sub-paragraph b of Law Number 31 of 2002 regarding Political Parties (State Gazette of the Republic of Indonesia Year 2002 Number 138 and Supplement to the State Gazette of the Republic of Indonesia Number 4251) is contradictory to the 1945 Constitution Article 28C Paragraph (2), Article 28D Paragraph (1), Article 28E Paragraph (3), Article 28I Paragraph (2) and does not have a binding legal force.

Article 2 Paragraph (3) Sub-paragraph b of Law Number 31 of 2002 regarding Political Parties which reads “Political Parties as intended in Paragraph (1) must be registered with the Department of Justice on condition that: b. having executive board in at least 50% (fifty percent) of the province number, 50% (fifty percent) of the regency/city number in every relevant province and 25% (twenty-five percent) of the district number in every relevant regency/city.”

According to the Petitioners, the requirements indicated in such article obstruct the establishment of local political parties. The Petitioners agree if the requirements are addressed to political parties that take part in the General Elections. “The main objective of political parties such as PARTI is to give political education to its cadres in regions, not for taking part in the General Elections” Lieus said.

Before closing the hearing, Judge Mukhtie Fadjar as the Head of the Panel ratified the written instrument of evidence filed by the Petitioners. (Mastiur A.P)