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Tuesday, February 16, 2021 | 13:43 WIB

Constitutional Justice Manahan M. P. Sitompul reading out the legal considerations at the Waropen Regency election results dispute hearing, Monday (15/2/2021) in the Plenary Courtroom of the Constitutional Court. Photo by Humas MK/Teguh.

JAKARTA, Public Relations of the Constitutional Court—The Constitutional Court (MK) rendered the Waropen regent election results dispute petition by Candidate Pair No. 2 Yusak Samuel Wonatorey-Muhammad Imran inadmissible. The Decision No. 106/PHP.BUP-XIX/2021 was read out on Monday afternoon, February 15, 2021 in the plenary courtroom.

In the legal considerations read out by Constitutional Justice Manahan M. P. Sitompul, the Court observed the Petitioner legal standing regarding the threshold to file a petition of the 2020 regional head election results dispute. According to the Court, the population of Waropen Regency was 35,964, so the vote margin threshold between the Petitioner and the winning candidate pair would be 2% of the total votes at the final vote counting stage as certified by the regency’s General Elections Commission (KPU).

The vote margin between the Petitioner and the candidate pair with the most votes shouldn’t exceed 2% of 32,131 votes, or 643 votes. The Petitioner earned 1,861 votes while the Relevant Party earned 16,529, with the margin between them standing at 14,668 votes (40.78%).

“Therefore, the vote margin between the Petitioner and the candidate pair with the most votes exceeded the threshold as required by Article 158 paragraph (2) letter d of Law No. 1 of 2016,” Justice Manahan stated.

The Court also stated that the Petitioner’s allegation of the implementation of the noken system in 2 districts was obscure, as they didn’t specify the districts or polling stations (TPS) where it had occurred.

Also read:

Constitutional Court Examines Regional Head Election Results Dispute for Yalimo and Waropen Regency

MK Listen to the Answers of Balikpapan and Waropen General Election Commissions (KPU)

At the preliminary hearing on Tuesday, January 26, 2021, Candidate Pair Yusak Samuel Wonatorey-Muhammad Imran through attorney Oktavianus Boboy requested the annulment of the Waropen Regency KPU Decree No. 411/PI.02.6.Kpt/9115/KPU-Kab/XII/2020 on the Certification of the 2020 Waropen Regency Election Vote Counting Recapitulation. They alleged that vote buying or “money politics” had occurred in 9 districts and 70 villages to benefit Candidate Pair No. 4. They also alleged that the noken system, which was banned in Waropen Regency, was implemented inappropriately because it only applies to Puncak Jaya, Intan Jaya, Paniyai, Yahukimo, Jayawijaya, and Tolikara Regencies.

Writer: Melisa F. D.
Editor: Nur R.
Uploader: Rudi

Translator: Yuniar Widiastuti
Editor: R.A. Indah Apriyanti
Managing Editor: Budi Wijayanto

Translation uploaded on 02/16/2021 15:28 WIB

Disclaimer: The original version of the news is in Indonesian. In case of any differences between the English and the Indonesian version, the Indonesian version will prevail.

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