Constitutional Justice Enny Nurbaningsih at the preliminary examination hearing for Case No. 205/PHPU.GUB-XXIII/2025 on the South Papua governor election results dispute, Thursday (1/16/2025). Photo by MKRI/Bayu.

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JAKARTA (MKRI) – The Constitutional Court (MK) conducted a preliminary examination hearing on the South Papua governor election results dispute for Case No. 205/PHPU.GUB-XXIII/2025, on Thursday, January 16, 2025. The hearing was presided over by Constitutional Justices Arief Hidayat (panel chair), Enny Nurbaningsih, and Anwar Usman on panel 3.

The Petitioner, Saparuddin, who serves as the National Coordinator of the Indonesian Voters Association, filed for the withdrawal of the petition for Case No. 205/PHPU.GUB-XXIII/2025. However, neither the petitioner nor his legal counsel was present at the hearing.

"Therefore, this case was withdrawn with a valid letter received by the Court," stated Justice Arief in the panel 3 courtroom on Thursday, January 16, 2025.

The South Papua governor election was contested by four candidate pairs with the following results: Candidate Pair 01 Darius Gewilom-Yusak Yaluwo received 49,000 votes; Candidate Pair 02 Nikolaus Kondomo-H. Baidin Kurita garnered 12,656 votes; Candidate Pair 03 Romanus Mbaraka-Albertus Muyak obtained 68,991 votes; and Candidate Pair 04 Apolo Safanpo-Paskalis Imadawa secured 139,580 votes.

Before the withdrawal, the Petitioner questioned the formation of South Papua Province, arguing that it did not meet the administrative requirements outlined in Article 32, paragraph (2) of Law Number 23 of 2014 on Regional Government. The law stipulates that a province must consist of at least five regencies or cities, yet South Papua only consists of four regencies: Merauke, Mappi, Boven Digoel, and Asmat.

In addition, the South Papua governor election was marred by various substantive problems that affected the election results. One of the key issues was the uneven distribution of election logistics in areas with limited transportation access, which led to many residents being unable to exercise their right to vote.(*)

Author  : Nawir Arsyad Akbar
Editor   : Lulu Anjarsari P.
PR : Tiara Agustina
Translator     : Nazila Rikhusshuba/FS (RA)

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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