Constitutional Justices Aswanto and I Dewa Gede Palguna after the selection of constitutional justices for the 2019–2021 term, Monday (25/3) in the Constitutional Court. Photo by Humas MK/Ganie.

JAKARTA, Public Relations of the Constitutional Court—Constitutional Justice Aswanto was re-elected Deputy Chief Justice of the Constitutional Court for the 2019–2021 term. The decision was taken through voting on Monday (25/3/2019). The panel of justices had previously held a closed, extended plenary justice deliberation meeting (RPH) at 16.00 WIB. Chief Justice Anwar Usman who led the meeting had announced the deliberation result, which decided on a voting. The closed meeting had decided on two candidates—Constitutional Justices Aswanto and I Dewa Gede Palguna—as candidates for Deputy Chief Justice of the Constitutional Court for the 2019–2021 term.

In the first round, Constitutional Justices Aswanto and I Dewa Gede Palguna each received 4 votes, while 1 justice abstained. In the second round, both justices received the same number of votes, with 1 invalid vote. According to the Regulation of the Constitutional Court No. 3 of 2012 on the Procedure for the Selection of Chief and Deputy Chief Justice of the Constitutional Court, when a consensus is not reached, the decision will be made through a voting in a justices plenary meeting that is open to the public. If the voting does not come up with majority votes, a second and third voting will be conducted.

However, before the third round of voting, Constitutional Justice I Dewa Gede Palguna withdrew his candidacy for Deputy Chief Justice of the Constitutional Court for the 2019–2021 term. “With similar voting results and given the high amount of work to do, I am withdrawing my candidacy,” Justice Palguna said before the open RPH.

For the humility and statesmanship of Constitutional Justice I Dewa Gede Palguna, the open plenary RPH accepted and decided Constitutional Justice Aswanto be elected Deputy Chief Justice of the Constitutional Court for the 2019–2021 term. “Along with the appointment of Constitutional Justice Aswanto as Deputy Chief Justice of the Constitutional Court for the 2019–2021 term, the justices plenary meeting concludes,” said Chief Justice Anwar closing the open RPH.

True Statesman

Delivering his opinion, Constitutional Justice Arief Hidayat said that the Constitutional Court elects statesmen as position is not the main concern; it is maintaining the state’s integrity. “We have witnessed the humility of Constitutional Justice Palguna who puts duty first. If [the voting] had continued, the result would have been the same, so with humility Constitutional Justice Palguna showed the public how constitutional justices put duty first. I am touched by the statesmanship and I respect it,” he said.

Justice Palguna expressed his gratitude for his candidacy as a result of the justices deliberation meeting, although he had never contemplated the idea himself. “However, as the [justices] had given a mandate, I shall oblige. When [the multiple voting came to the same conclusion], [it would not matter] whoever was selected. I was reminded of some words of wisdom that if one can see something that is best for him, if all other reference cannot be used, one must [look into his] heart. There is a lot of other work to do. This is the best choice. I was only listening to my heart,” Justice Palguna said.

In accordance with the provision of Article 21 paragraph (4) of the Constitutional Court Law, before assuming position, Deputy Chief of the Constitutional Court takes an oath before the Constitutional Court. Before ending the open plenary session, Chief Justice Anwar Usman said that the Court had scheduled a Special Plenary Session for Oath Declaration of Deputy Chief Justice of the Constitutional Court for the 2019–2021 term on Tuesday, March 26, 2019 at 10.00 WIB at the Plenary Courtroom of the Constitutional Court. (Sri Pujianti/LA/Yuniar Widiastuti)