Constitutional Justice I Dewa Gede Palguna with Head of Public Relations and Protocol Department Rubiyo and researcher Pan Mohamad Faiz welcomed KPU Chairperson Arief Budiman and Commissioners Ilham Saputra and Wahyu Setiawan, Thursday (22/11) at the 15^th Flood Delegation Room of the Constitutional Court. Photo by Humas MK/Ganie.

The General Elections Commission (KPU) visited the Constitutional Court to have an audience on the Decision No. 30/PUU-XVI/2018 on the ban on party-affiliated Regional Representatives Council (DPD) members. KPU Chairperson Arief Budiman with Commissioners Ilham Saputra and Wahyu Setiawan were welcomed by Constitutional Justice I Dewa Gede Palguna with Head of Public Relations and Protocol Department Rubiyo and researcher Pan Mohamad Faiz.

After the closed audience, Justice Palguna informed reporters that the Constitutional Court worked in accordance with the procedural law of the Constitutional Court. When a Constitutional Court decision is pronounced, it is valid. The Court hands over its decision to the KPU. According to him, the Constitutional Court has made a clear, binding decision in accordance with the law. "No Constitutional Court decision is retroactive," he said. He refused to comment on the decisions of the Supreme Court and the State Administrative Court regarding the nomination of DPD members who are political party officials.

Meanwhile, KPU Commissioner Wahyu Setiawan stressed that the audience was held so that the KPU had a more complete perspective related to the decision on the nomination of DPD members, from the Constitutional Court, Supreme Court, and State Administrative Court (PTUN).

"The Constitutional Justices stated that the Constitutional Court\'s decision is equivalent to a law, so all state institutions and all citizens are obliged to comply. That is what we’re informed. A very clear message is that the Constitutional Court\'s decision is equivalent to a law," Wahyu Setiawan said at the Constitutional Court on Thursday (22/11/2018).

KPU Chairman Arief Budiman also stressed that the Constitutional Court during the audience did not comment on the rulings of the Supreme Court and State Administrative Court. The Constitutional Court only gave a statement regarding the Constitutional Court Decision Number 30/PUU-XVI/2018, which is binding since it was passed on July 23, 2018. (Lulu Anjarsari/Yuniar Widiastuti)