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Monday, April 19, 2021 | 12:16 WIB

Chief Justice Anwar Usman speaking at an interagency coordination meeting between the Ministry of Home Affairs, ministries/agencies, and regional governments at the Constitutional Court's Pancasila and Constitution Education Center, Friday (9/4/2021).

Jakarta, Public Relations—Chief Justice Anwar Usman spoke at an interagency coordination meeting between the Ministry of Home Affairs, ministries/agencies, and regional governments at the Constitutional Court's Pancasila and Constitution Education Center on “The Constitutional Court’s Authority on Regional Head Election Results Disputes” on Friday, April 9, 2021.

Justice Anwar said that the regional head election (pilkada) is a means for the people in electing their direct representatives in the government in their regions. He said that in order to maintain the purity of the people's voice, the election must be designed well. Pilkada as a mandate of Article 18 paragraph (4) of the 1945 Constitution can be realized through good democratic values.

He touched on the fact that simultaneous pilkada has taken place since 2015 and will take place in 2024. He added that although its implementation is within the jurisdiction of the KPU (General Elections Commission) as election organizer and Bawaslu (Elections Supervisory Body) as overseer, various elements including the Ministry of Home Affairs contribute to successful pilkada.

He explained that electoral violations are settled by four institutions: ethical by the DKPP (Election Organizer Ethics Council), administrative by Bawaslu, criminal by Gakkumdu (Integrated Law Enforcement), and results by the Constitutional Court.

He admitted that the 2020 simultaneous pilkada was challenged by the pandemic. Other countries, such as South Korea and Sri Lanka, have also succeeded in conducting elections. He said the people must believe that the COVID-19 pandemic is a challenge that must be met with wisdom.

“Alhamdulillah (thank God), thanks to good coordination, the 2020 pilkada ran democratically according to the mandate of the Constitution and statutory laws and in compliance with health protocol. Good cooperation would be a mutual capital in facing future challenges,” he said.

Justice Anwar concluded his presentation by expressing hope that government agencies and officials, especially those at the meeting, would contribute to the state. He added that the republic exists because of the regions. He also hoped that government agencies promote the Constitutional Court as the guardian of the Constitution to make it known to the public of its role in guarding the Constitution and the citizens’ constitutional rights

Writer: Sri Pujianti
Editor: Lulu Anjarsari P.
Translator: Yuniar Widiastuti (NL)

Translation uploaded on 4/20/2021 17:22 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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