BEM Alliance to Hold Consolidation in Response to Constitutional Court's Decision

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The National Student Executive Board or BEM today held a consolidation event in response to the Constitutional Court's decision regarding the age limit for presidential and vice presidential candidates with the addition of the phrase having previously been a regional head. In the consolidation, they will discuss how they will respond to the Constitutional Court's decision.

BEM chairman of the Jakarta State Polytechnic, Galih Rizkyawan, said that the Constitutional Court's decision had hurt the public's sense of justice. "The decision should be based on justice, but instead favors one group. And it was decided in a short time, we also see that there is a game in it," he said on Tuesday, October 17.

Galih suspects that the Constitutional Court's decision has been designed in such a way to benefit one group.

This consolidation event will be attended by several BEMs, including that from the Univerity of Indonesia (UI), UNS, Lambung Mangkurat, Jenderal Soedirman University, and others. "Also several campuses around Jabodetabek, and several regions in Indonesia will close together, the number is still increasing," Galih said.

He estimates that BEMs from 30 to 40 campuses will be joining the consolidation. Apart from BEM, continued Galih, this consolidation will also be attended by elements of society, in this case from among the workers.

Red Carpet for Gibran

The Constitutional Court's decision to grant part of the lawsuit against Election Law No. 7/2017 concerning the age limit for presidential and vice presidential candidates—adding the phrase "had served as regional heads" is seen as a red carpet for the Solo Mayor Gibran Rakabuming Raka to run for the 2024 presidential election.

"The Constitutional Court's decision could also give presidential candidate Prabowo to open the door wide for Gibran to become his vice presidential candidate," Jember University FISIP lecturer Muhammad Iqbal said as quoted by Antara on Tuesday, October 17.

According to him, the five Constitutional Court judges' agreeing to the clause that regional heads could register as vice presidential candidates is a sign that they are trying to make it easier for Gibran to become a contestant in the 2024 presidential election.

"The MK's decision confirms the existence of political orchestration, as seen in recent banners, t-shirts, and the support and volunteers' declarations in all corners of the region expressing a plan to pair up Prabowo with Gibran," he said.

RICKY JULIANSYAH

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