The Petitioner’s legal counsel, Michael Remizaldi J. while attending the preliminary hearing of Case No. 107/PHPU.BUP-XXIII/2025 on the North Minahasa regent election result dispute. Photo by MKRI/Ifa

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JAKARTA (MKRI) — The North Minahasa regent-vice regent candidate pair 1, Melky Jakhin Pangemanan and Christian Kamagi filed a petition to the Court, requesting the annulment of General Election Commission (KPU) decree No. 1287 of 2024 on the certification of North Minahasa regent-vice regent election result. Chief Justice Suhartoyo with Constitutional Justices Daniel Yusmic P. Foekh and M. Guntur Hamzah held the preliminary hearing for this case in panel 1 courtroom on Monday, January 13, 2025.

In the hearing of Case No.107/PHPU.BUP-XXIII/2025, the Petitioner’s legal counsel, Michael Remizaldi Jacobus stated the Respondent’s vote results. Candidate pair 1 (the Petitioner) received 51,070 votes, while candidate pair 2 (Joune James Esau Ganda-Kevin William Lotulong) as the Relevant Party, received 70,620 votes. The Petitioner claimed that the Relevant Party should obtain 0 votes, considering they were obtained through structured, systematic and massive (TSM) violations.

These TSM violations include the rotation or reassignment of officials within North Minahasa Regency government, which were subsequently reversed following the Minister of Home Affairs’ letter on the Revocation of the regency government dated April 17, 2024. These officials were subsequently reinstated to their previous positions.

The Petitioners argued that the incumbent regent candidate’s decision to change officials qualifies as an official change conducted without the required approval from the Minister of Home Affairs. This action constitutes a violation of Article 71, paragraph (2) of Law No. 10 of 2016. Consequently, the incumbent should have been disqualified by the General Election Commission (KPU). However, the Respondent failed to enforce this disqualification. Specifically, the incumbent’s changes to officials on March 22, 2024, and April 17, 2024, should be deemed as unauthorized official changes, directly contravening the applicable legal provisions.

Campaign Violations

The Petitioner also alleged several violations by the incumbent during the campaign, including the use of government facilities (escort patrol cars and other vehicles), implementation of a cheap food program in Kawangkoan village (Kalawat district), Paniki Atas village (Talawaan district), Munte Atas village (West Likupang district), distribution of social aid (disaster relief and home renovations) at the North Minahasa government hall, provision of fisheries and infrastructure assistance to fishers and fish farmers in Tumaluntung Village (Kauditan District), and distribution of 248 land ownership certificates to Wori Village communities.

“Considering such instances, the Petitioner requests the Court to disqualify the North Minahasa regent-vice regent candidate pair 2 (Joune James Esau Ganda-Kevin William Lotulong) and establish the Petitioner as the elected regent-vice regent candidate pair in the 2024 election,” stated Octo Arystho Emerson while reading out the petition. 

Author           : Sri Pujianti
Editor            : N. Rosi
Translator     : Ryan Alfian/FS

 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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