Secretary General M. Guntur Hamzah speaking at a national seminar in the Law Faculty of Diponegoro University, Thursday (6/9) in Semarang. Photo by Humas MK.

The Constitutional Court (MK) shares great interest and responsibilities for the successful implementation of the regional election (pilkada) and the 2019 elections. This is because, as the last bastion of law and democracy, the Constitutional Court is the judge of political disputes. Political disputes must be completed before the law so that constitutional justice can be realized. This was conveyed by Secretary General of the Constitutional Court M. Guntur Hamzah when opening the national seminar on "Election of Regional Heads in 2018 and Challenges in Facing Simultaneous General Elections in 2019." The seminar was held as collaboration between the Court and Law Faculty of Diponegoro University (Undip) on Thursday (6/9/2018) in Semarang.

In a presentation moderated by Undip law lecturer Lita Tyesta A. L. W., Guntur explained that regional disputes not over election results are under purview of other courts, while the Constitutional Court deals with disputes over election results.

Undip Law Faculty Dean Retno Saraswati shared her views on pilkada and general elections. She hoped that pilkada issues would be really noticed. The increase of arrests of regional heads indicates a serious issue, including in pilkada. Political parties, she added, should send their best candidates whose integrity is tested, in order to occupy electoral positions.

General Elections Commission (KPU) Commissioner Hasyim Asy’ari said that the global and actual issue regarding election today was mostly about electoral integrity. This integrity is dependent on institutions such as the KPU, the Elections Supervisory Agency (Bawaslu), and the Election Organizer Ethics Council (DKPP). The Constitutional Court serves to guarantee the integrity of the election results. Those institutions play a role in realizing elections of integrity that provides legal certainty.

Around 200 law educators of universities all around Central Java participated in the seminar. Also attending the seminars are representatives of KPU, Bawaslu, Panwas, local governments, political parties, as well as undergraduate and graduate students of Undip Law Faculty. (FLS/LA/Yuniar Widiastuti)