Legal counsel Firman H. Simanjuntak at the petition revision hearing of provision on the requirements for regional head candidates, Monday (7/29/2024). Photo by MKRI/Ifa.

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JAKARTA (MKRI) — Petitioners for case No. 73/PUU-XXII/2024 revised their petition. Legal counsel Firman H Simanjuntak said that the Petitioners wish to run as regional head candidates by cooperating with former regional heads who had served one term of office. However, this intention was hampered by the provisions of Article 7 paragraph (2) letter o of Law No. 10 of 2016 on Regional Head Elections (Pilkada Law).

“The Petitioners are parties who wish to run for regional head positions in their hometowns within regencies/cities across North Sumatra Province, paired with former regional heads who have served a prior term. They are positioned as candidates for deputy regional head. However, the provisions of Article 7 letter o of the Pilkada Law have obstructed the Petitioners’ aspirations to contribute to regional development alongside the local community,” said Firman during the petition revision hearing on Monday, July 29, 2024.

The Petitioners assert that their constitutional rights have been infringed upon by the enactment of these provisions. Thus, in their petition, they requested the Court to declare Article 7 paragraph (2) letter o of the Pilkada Law contrary to the 1945 Constitution of the Republic of Indonesia.

Also read: Petitioners Wish Provision Requiring No Previous Term in Office Be Annulled

The Petitioners are John Gunung Hutapea, Deny Panjaitan, Saibun Kasmadi Sirait, and Elvis Sitorus (Petitioners I-IV). They challenge Article 7 paragraph (2) letter o of the Pilkada Law, which reads, “… o. has never been a Governor for candidates for Vice Governor, or Regent/Mayor for Candidates for Vice Regent/Vice Mayor in the same region.”

They believe the provision does not give the same and equal treatment to citizens and has impaired the justice that the people long for, including the Petitioners, who wish to be candidates in the 2024 regional election. They argue that the provision has led to only those who have no prior experience as regional heads to be nominated as or run for candidates for deputy regional head, while former regional heads who have prior experience are not given the opportunity to be candidates for deputy regional head.

This second hearing was presided over by Deputy Chief Justice Saldi Isra (panel chair) and Constitutional Justices Asrul Sani and Anwar Usman. The Panel of Justices validated the evidence submitted by the Petitioners. Before closing the hearing, Deputy Chief Justice Saldi Isra said that this petition would be submitted to the Justice Deliberation Meeting to determine whether it would continue to the next examination session (plenary) or be decided without going through the plenary session. (*)

Author            : Mimi Kartika
Editor             : Lulu Anjarsari P.
PR                 : Raisa Ayuditha Marsaulina
Translator      : Intana Selvira Fauzi/Rizky Kurnia Chaesario (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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