Anwar Usman Denies Lobbying Judges over Presidential Age Limit Ruling

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Chief Justice of the Constitutional Court Anwar Usman denied the allegations that he lobbied other judges over the court's ruling on the minimum age requirement for presidential and vice presidential candidates. 

“No such lobbying,” he told journalists outside the court’s building after being questioned by the court’s Council of Honor today, Oct. 31.

In Ruling No. 90/PUU-XXI/2023 on the presidential and vice presidential candidate’s eligibility, three of the nine judges had dissenting opinions and suggested that the court dismiss the lawsuit. The other two judges had concurring opinions.

Anwar also rebutted the notion that there was a conflict of interest in the ruling. Since it was a hearing on legal norms, he argued, the interests of all Indonesians were at stake.

When asked about the ethics trial, Anwar said it was related to issues circulating in the media. “Let’s wait for the council’s results,” he said.

Tempo observed that the Honorary Council grilled Anwar for more than an hour behind closed doors. The chief justice and other judges were reportedly accused of ethics violations in issuing the ruling on the presidential age limit, which was seen as paving the way for Solo Mayor Gibran Rakabuming, Anwar Usman's nephew and President Jokowi's eldest son, to run in the 2024 presidential election.

SULTAN ABDURRAHMAN

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