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Monday, March 22, 2021 | 19:21 WIB

Constitutional Justice Wahiduddin Adams reading out the Court’s legal considerations at the ruling hearing of Solok regent election dispute, Monday (22/3/2021) in the Plenary Courtroom of the Constitutional Court. Photo by Humas MK/Teguh.

JAKARTA, Public Relations—The Constitutional Court (MK) rejected the entire petition by Candidate Pair No. 1 Nofi Candra-Yulfradi in the Decision No. 77/PHP.BUP-XIX/2021 on the 2020 Solok regent election dispute.

“[The Court] adjudicates, rejects the Respondent’s and Relevant Party’s objections in their entirety. [The Court] rejects the Petitioner’s petition in its entirety,” said Justice Anwar alongside the other eight constitutional justices at a virtual ruling hearing in the plenary courtroom on Monday afternoon, March 22, 2021.

Also read: Alleged TSM and Administrative Violations in Purworejo, Solok, Rembang Regency Elections

The Petitioner alleged that their votes had been reduced because the polling station working committee (KPPS) had destroyed a number of valid votes, making them invalid. When examining the KWK subdistrict result D model forms, the Court didn’t find any invalid votes. In addition, the Petitioner couldn’t elaborate how their allegation came to be.

“Moreover, the Petitioner didn’t raise objections at those polling stations. According to the facts revealed in the proceedings, all of the Petitioner’s witnesses accepted the vote counting at all polling stations and signed the vote counting minute and certificate. None of them objected to the voting and vote counting. The Court didn’t find any evidence and legal facts that convinced the Court of the violation or manipulation in the form of vote reduction at all polling stations as alleged by the Petitioner,” Constitutional Justice Wahiduddin Adams read out.

Also read: Solok Regency KPU Denies Invalidation of Ballots

Regarding the Petitioner’s allegation of double voting at TPS 4 and 6 of Aripan Nagari, X Koto Singkarak Subdistrict as well as TPS 8 of Selayo Nagari, Kubung Subdistrict, the Court didn’t find convincing written evidence and witnesses. In addition, the Respondent admitted that the KPPS of TPS 8 of Selayo Nagari had made an error in checking the announcement form to voter No. 161.

“In addition, based on the examination of the KWK-results C model forms, all witnesses for the candidate pairs signed and agreed on the form and the vote counting minute and certificate. Not one witness signed an [incident/objection form] at the polling stations. Therefore, the Court believes, based on the evidence and facts, that the argument of the a quo Petitioner was legally grounded,” Justice Wahiduddin said.

The Court also didn’t find convincing evidence of structured, systematic, and massive vote buying or “money politics.” The regency’s Bawaslu (Elections Supervisory Body) didn’t receive any report or finding in relation to a house renovation program. “Therefore, the Court believes the Petitioner’s argument was legally groundless,” he added.

Also read: Testimony over Some Voters’ Inability to Vote in Solok Regent Election

The 2020 Solok regent election dispute case No. 77/PHP.BUP-XIX/2021 was filed by Candidate Pair No. 1 Nofi Candra-Yulfradi. They earned 814 fewer votes than Candidate Pair No. 2 Epyardi Asda-Jon Firman Pandu (Relevant Party) based on the Solok Regency KPU’s vote counting certification.

In the petition, the Petitioner alleged that their votes had been reduced because the KPPS had destroyed a number of valid votes, making them invalid. They also alleged that the KPU didn’t show professionalism and that some voters had committed double voting. They also alleged that the total numbers of voters in the final voters list (DPT) in the recapitulation in Solok Regency for the 2020 West Sumatera governor election and that in the 2020 Solok regent election differed. They also believe there had been massive money politics as the Laskar Merah Putih mass organization was a symbol of the immunity of Candidate Pair No. 2 from law and the partiality of 74 heads of nagari.

Writer: Fuad Subhan

Editor: Lulu Anjarsari P.

Uploader: Nur Budiman

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

Translation uploaded on 3/23/2021 15:03 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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