Civil Society to Rally Against DPR's Attempt to Overturn Court's Election Ruling

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Legislative Body (Baleg) of the House of Representatives (DPR) is pushing to pass Law Number 10 of 2016 concerning the Election of Governors, Regents, and Mayors in a plenary meeting today, August 22, 2024. This bill would effectively nullify the Constitutional Court's ruling regarding the requirements for regional head elections.

In response, various elements of civil society are organizing large-scale demonstrations to protest the DPR's stance, which they deem as a violation of the court’s ruling. Professors, political scientists, constitutional law experts, academics, pro-democracy activists, and '98 activists are among those who will be participating in a demonstration at the Constitutional Court building.

Prominent figures such as Magnis Suseno, Goenawan Mohammad, Saiful Mujani, Valina Singka Subekti, Sulistyowati Irianto, Abraham Samad, Bivitri Susanti, Usman Hamid, Ubedilah Badrun, Ray Rangkuti, A.Wakil Kamal, Nong Darul Mahmada, Alif Iman, Antonius Danar, Danardono Sirojudin, Fauzan Luthsa, and Kusfiardi are expected to join the protest.

“We, the professors, political scientists, constitutional law experts, other academics, pro-democracy activists, etc., who are fully supported by the '98 activists, will take action towards the Constitutional Court building to safeguard democracy and the republic,” stated the call for action received by Tempo on Wednesday, August 21, 2024.

Additionally, the Gerakan Memanggil Jogja (Jogja is Calling Movement) will also be holding demonstrations in the region to voice their concerns about the threat to the democratic process in Indonesia. The gathering point for this action will be at the Abu Bakar Ali Parking Lot, Malioboro.

Students from various campuses, united under the Indonesian Student Executive Board (BEM SI), will also be participating in the demonstrations to reject the DPR's stance. They are calling on campuses in 14 regions to join the mass action at the DPR Building today.

On Tuesday, August 20, 2024, the Constitutional Court (MK) issued a decision determining the regional head election threshold based on the acquisition of valid votes by political parties or coalitions of political parties, linked to the number of Permanent Voters Lists (DPT) for the 2024 Election in each region. The decision outlined four classifications of valid vote sizes: 10 percent, 8.5 percent, 7.5 percent, and 6.5 percent, depending on the size of the DPT in the relevant region. This decision is contained in Constitutional Court decision 60/PUU-XXII/2024.

In another decision, numbered 70/PUU-XXII/2024, the Constitutional Court set the minimum age limit for regional head candidates at 30 years at the time of KPU's candidate determination.

However, just a day after the decision, on Wednesday, August 21, 2024, the DPR Baleg held a meeting to discuss the Regional Election Bill. During the meeting, the Baleg announced its intention to maintain the 20 percent threshold of seats in parliament for political parties seeking to nominate candidates in the regional head elections.

Furthermore, the DPR Baleg rejected Constitutional Court decision Number 70/PUU-XXII/2024 regarding the age requirements for regional head candidates, calculated from the inauguration of the elected candidate pair. The DPR Baleg decision stipulates a minimum age limit of 30 years for Governor and Deputy Governor candidates and 25 years for Regent and Deputy Regent or Mayor and Deputy Mayor candidates.

ADE RIDWAN YANDWIPUTRA

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