THE Constitutional Court’s (MK) new interpretation of the threshold for regional head nominations for political parties, which was read out 7 days before the registration of prospective candidate pairs, is predicted to change the political constellation.
The decision on the judicial review filed by the Labor Party and the Gelora Party is considered a symbol of reviving democracy in the 2024 regional elections.
The Chairman of The Constitutional Democracy Initiative (Consid) Kholil Pasaribu said that the Constitutional Court Decision Number 60/PUU/XXII/2024 should be welcomed and deserves appreciation. He said that the decision was read out by the Constitutional Court amid the strengthening of cartel politics in the nomination of regional heads which has the potential to give rise to a single candidate against an empty box.
“The people who have recently become fed up with the behavior of political party elites and have almost lost faith in the democratization process have again found fresh space,” he told Media Indonesia today.
With the ruling, Kholil hopes that party elites will return to their true selves in making decisions, including making the people’s voices the basis for consideration. According to him, horse-trading politics in the nomination of regional heads should no longer be carried out after the Constitutional Court issued a new interpretation regarding the nomination threshold.
“Because political parties or coalitions of political parties have been given the freedom to nominate their best cadres as regional head candidates,” stressed Kholil.
Also read: KPU Consults with DPR Regarding MK Decision on Regional Head Nominations
Previously, the Constitutional Court through Decision Number 60/PUU-XXII/2024 changed the threshold for nominating regional head and deputy regional head candidates.
Through this ruling, the Constitutional Court stated that political parties that do not get seats in the DPRD can nominate candidate pairs. The calculation of the requirements to propose candidate pairs through political parties or a coalition of political parties participating in the election is only based on the results of valid votes in the election in the relevant region.
“The verdict grants the petitioners’ request in part,” said Chief Justice of the Constitutional Court Suhartoyo reading out the verdict for the case filed by the Labor Party and the Gelora Party in the Plenary Courtroom of the Constitutional Court, Jakarta, today. (Ant/P-2)
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