Chief Justice Anwar Usman and the President of the Constitutional Court of Spain Pedro José González-Trevijano Sánchez signing an MoU, Wednesday (12/1/2021). Photo by Humas MK/NL.

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Friday, December 3, 2021 | 15:37 WIB

MADRID, Public Relations—The Constitutional Court of the Republic of Indonesia (MKRI) signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Constitutional Court of the Kingdom of Spain on Wednesday, December 1, 2021 in the plenary courtroom Sala de la Vista. The MoU was signed by Chief Justice Anwar Usman, the President of the Constitutional Court of Spain, Pedro José González-Trevijano Sánchez, and Secretary-General of Andres Gutiérrez Gil.

In the MoU, both courts agreed to cooperate in exchanging information in constitutional law, exchanging decisions, as well as organizing institutional capacity building, professional courses, joint research, and conferences at the global level. The MoU will last for five years since the date of its signing and can be extended for another five years.

In his remarks, Justice González-Trevijano Sánchez said that the cooperation with MKRI was an honor for his Court because MKRI has a great reputation not only in Asia but the world. He said MKRI’s contribution to the World Conference on Constitutional Justice (WCCJ) would be an important momentum for the development of constitutional law enforcement and world peace. “I will make sure that the delegation of the Constitutional Court of Spain and I will be present in Bali to support Indonesia in holding the congress,” he added.

In response, Chief Justice Anwar Usman remarked that the MoU is a joint response to an open global life where interaction is borderless. He stressed that exchange of information and experiences is a customary way of keeping up with rapid global developments.

Justice Anwar also said of MKRI’s similarities with the Constitutional Court of Spain. “Indonesia and Spain are strategic partners that share main visions in terms of law enforcement, democracy, and human rights, where national integrity is the glue and main aspect for a prosperous country,” he remarked at the event, which was broadcast live both courts’ official YouTube channels.

He recalled the Constitutional Court of Spain anti-secessionist role in maintaining the country’s unity in the case of the Catalonia Province, saying it needed to be studied in depth by MKRI as MKRI is not only the guardian of the Constitution but also the guardian of the state’s.

The signing was followed by a two-hour working session where the two courts explained information that would be mutually beneficial. Both courts explained their authorities and functions in the first session, while in the second they talked about their management and finances. Closing the discussion, Ignaccio Ulloa Rubio, Head of Office of the President of the Constitutional Court of Spain, expressed admiration of MKRI’s expansive authorities that affect many aspects of Indonesian people’s lives. He learned from MKRI’s delegation two authorities of MKRI that the Constitutional Court of Spain does not have: opinion on impeachment and the dissolution of political parties.

Cooperation between MKRI and the Constitutional Court of Spain was initiated in 2020. The MoU between the two states is the first international cooperation that MKRI has done amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

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

Translation uploaded on 12/9/2021 14:45 WIB

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

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