Deputy Chief Justice Aswanto and Constitutional Justice Wahiduddin Adams welcoming the Supreme Court Justice of the Netherlands Edgar du Perron, Monday (2/7) in the Constitutional Court. Photo by Humas MK/Ganie.

Supreme Court Justice of the Netherlands Edgar du Perron spoke at the recharging program organized by the Constitutional Court of Indonesia for its staff on Monday (2/7/2018) in the Conference Room of the Constitutional Court. Opening his presentation on “Rule of Law, Constitutional Principles and Election-Related Questions in the Case Law of the Highest Courts of the Netherlands,” he expressed his admiration for the preparedness of the Constitutional Court of Indonesia in handling the 2018 simultaneous regional election. He said that there was no similar institution handling the regional election in the Netherlands. He added that there is no election dispute in the Netherlands because the people put their trust in the parties in the parliament. “In the event of dispute, the National Electoral Council handles only the tally. Besides, electoral dispute is very rare in the Netherlands,” he said.

In his opinion, an institution such as the Constitutional Court is good for the democracy. Unfortunately, Edgar said, the Netherlands does not have such an institution. He said that not until 2018 did talks surrounding the Constitutional Court arise in the Netherlands. Therefore, he hoped for cooperation with the Constitutional Court of Indonesia for the establishment of the Constitutional Court in the Netherlands, so that the Netherlands can learn from the experiences of the Constitutional Court of Indonesia.

Before delivering his presentation before some 30 staff members, which comprised substitute registrars and researchers, Edgar had met with Deputy Chief Justice Aswanto, Constitutional Justice I Dewa Gede Palguna, and Constitutional Justice Wahiduddin Adams. They discussed the legal system in the Netherlands. Prior to meeting the justices, Edgar had met with Secretary General M. Guntur Hamzah, who said that the recharging program was organized to improve the quality of the decisions. It was endorsed and fully supported by President Joko Widodo. The Court also organized pilot specialization program for researchers and substitute registrars, internship, and international events such as short courses as part of the collaboration of the AACC.

The recharging program had been held twice. Participants received materials from the university and learn about relevant institutions. “Last year [the program] held the theme of political party dissolution, while this year it was about elections,” he said.

The recharging program held Juni 25-July 4, 2018 was a follow-up collaboration with The Hague University. The program was aimed at improving the knowledge and experience of the staff in legal practices. The program on “General Course in Constitutional Law: Comparative Perspective” presented several experts from the European Court of Human Rights, the Supreme Court of the Netherlands, The Hague University, and Indonesia. (Lulu Anjarsari/Yuniar Widiastuti)