Rhoma Irama as Principal Petitioner after judicial review hearing of the General Elections Law, Tuesday (24/10) in the Courtroom of the Constitutional Court Building. Photo by Humas MK/Ganie.

The Constitutional Court (MK) once again held a judicial review hearing of Law No.  7/2017 on General Elections. The hearing of cases No. 53/PUU-XV/2017, 60/PUU-XV/2017, 62/PUU-XV/2017, 67/PUU-XV/2017, and 73/PUU-XV/2017 was held on Tuesday (24/10) in the Courtroom of the Constitutional Court Building. The agenda of this hearing is to listen to the statement by the Presidential and House of Representatives (DPR) in Case 67/PUU-XV/2017, but the House representative was unable to attend.

"Regarding Case 67/PUU-XV/2017, the Government stands by the statement delivered during the third hearing on September 25, 2017," said Director of Legislations Litigation of the Law and Human Rights Ministry Ninik Hariwanti as the Government representative in the hearing led by Deputy Chief Justice Anwar Usman.

In the previous statement, the Government stated that verification conducted by the General Elections Commission (KPU) was already in accordance with Article 173 paragraphs (1), (2), and (3) juncto Article 173 paragraph (1) of the General Elections Law. Thus, the article means that the parties eligible to participate in the elections are those that have followed a series of verification and been declared eligible. In addition, the government stressed that old political parties or parties that had passed the 2014 election verification would still be verified, but in a less detailed manner. This is done for the purpose of budgetary efficiency and time effectiveness.

In its petition, Petitioner No. 67 (the Indonesian Employers and Workers Party) argues that Article 173 paragraph (3) of the General Elections Law along the phrase "has been declared legally eligible" is a violation of the right to legal protection and certainty and equal treatment before the law. Therefore, the Petitioner claims that the a quo article is contradictory to Article 28D paragraph (1) of the 1945 Constitution as long as it is not interpreted as "a political party that has been legally validated pursuant to the requirement as stipulated in paragraph (2) is not re-verified and is declared as a political party participating in the elections."

At the end of the hearing, the Deputy Chief Justice Anwar stated that the next session will be held on Monday, November 13, 2017 with the agenda of hearing the Expert\\'s statement from Case 60/PUU-XV/2017. In addition, the Court will also invite KPU (as Relevant Party) to provide information about the 2014 election verification process. (Sri Pujianti/LA/Yuniar Widiastuti)