Chief Justice Anwar Usman opening a workshop on the 2024 election results disputes for the Perindo, Monday (7/31/2023) at the Pancasila and Constitution Education Center. Photo by MKRI/Agung.

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BOGOR (MKRI) — A total of 150 members of the Partai Persatuan Indonesia (Perindo Party) attended the workshop on the procedural law for the 2024 General Election Results Dispute (PHPU) at the Pancasila and Constitution Education Center (Pusdik) in Cisarua, Bogor, West Java Province on Monday, July 31, 2023. The event, taking place at Graha Konstitusi 3, was officially opened by Chief Justice Anwar Usman, accompanied by the center’s head of the Program and Implementation Department Nanang Subekti and national daily chairman of the Perindo’s (United Indonesia Party) central executive board (DPP) TGB (Tuan Guru Bajang) Muhammad Zainul Majdi.

In his opening remarks, Chief Justice Anwar Usman talked about the implementation of democracy in the country he officially visited a while ago. He also hoped that the development of democracy in Indonesia would also grow well with national leaders who have good awareness and leadership. In one of the countries he visited, he found, the leaders were husband and wife, but this did not affect their professionalism. He expressed hope that the upcoming general election would also elect professional and qualified state leaders.

“Perindo, which has a lot of outstanding members, can express ideas for the progress of the nation during the implementation of the democratic festivity. This workshop is the Constitutional Court’s effort to approach justice seekers in disputes in the future [so that they] understand the legal steps to take to fight for their rights,” he said.

Court in Touch with Community

In his remarks, TGB Muhammad Zainul Majdi also expressed hope that the Court would get closer to the community while maintaining its dignity. Indeed, the Court will gain more support by getting in touch with the community.

Zainul realized that the institutionalization of democracy requires that parties understand their respective duties and authorities, including Perindo. As contestants who are given the right by law to participate in elections, political parties can propagate their ideas, vision, and mission to the fullest. However, it should be underlined that there are limits and rules to follow in doing so.

“In terms of disputes over election results, it is undeniable that it is almost impossible that there will be no disputes, be it data issues or other matters. In the event of any disputes, we will challenge with strong and objective reasons. If we want to go to the Constitutional Court, we will also follow what is stipulated by the law and the rules by the Constitutional Court. Perindo is present in our public space to maintain what is good and improve the others,” he explained.

National Program Priorities

Meanwhile, in his report, Nanang Subekti said the Court’s success in organizing the 2024 PHPU requires the cooperation and synergy of the community, including the litigating parties. If the parties understand the Court’s procedural law, the Court will be able to resolve disputes smoothly, with dignity, fairly, and constitutionally.

“This PHPU workshop is a national program priority and Perindo Party the 16th participant. Furthermore, there will also be workshops for election administrators including the KPU [(General Elections Commission)], Bawaslu [(Elections Supervisory Body)], and four batches for advocate organizations,” he said.

2024 PHPU Procedural Law

Moderated by the Center’s head of the Program and Evaluation Division Ardiansyah Salim, Constitutional Justices Suhartoyo and Manahan M.P. Sitompul talked about several provisions related to PHPU procedural law that the parties must understand. In the first session, Constitutional Justice Manahan encouraged Perindo members to understand that the petition should be submitted no later than 3 x 24 hours since the announcement of the vote results of the election of DPR (House of Representatives), DPD (Regional Representatives Council), and DPRD (Regional Legislative Council) members nationally by the KPU (the respondent).

“To that end, party members should be able to strategize so they will not be disadvantaged by submission deadline and not forget to include relevant evidence on the issues presented in the petition. In the preliminary examination, these things become the entry point so that the petitioner’s legal standing will be considered,” he said.

Next, Constitutional Justice Suhartoyo delivered his presentation on political party members who run as legislative candidates. As a petitioner, either individually or on behalf of the party, party members must pay close attention to their legal standing in filing the PHPU petition because if an individual submits a petition without the approval of the party’s chairman or secretary-general, the formal requirements of the petition submission may not be fulfilled.

“Because the ones who have legal standing are the party, who is fighting for their members. One more thing to keep in mind is that if you have to file an individual case, the Court is created in order to provide convenience for justice seekers whose constitutional rights are affected. This is because constitutional rights are related to public interest,” Justice Suhartoyo explained.

The workshop take place from Monday to Thursday, July 31 to August 3, 2023 at the Court’s Pancasila and Constitution Education Center. Experts will deliver presentations on the Constitutional Court and the dynamics of election results dispute case resolution; the Court’s procedural law for the 2024 election; the mechanism, stages, and schedule of the 2024 PHPU; the drafting of petition and relevant party testimony in the 2024 PHPU; the information system for the 2024 PHPU. After the presentations, the participants will draft a petition and the relevant party’s testimony and have both evaluated by the facilitators.

Author       : Sri Pujianti
Editor        : Lulu Anjarsari P.
Translator  : Tahlitha Laela/Yuniar Widiastuti (NL)

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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