Headline:
MK Abolishes 20% Presidential Threshold: Immediate Reactions and Implications
Subhead:
Constitutional Court strikes down presidential threshold, impacting 2024 elections and beyond
Byline:
CNN Indonesia
Body:
The Constitutional Court (MK) has officially annulled the 20% presidential threshold for the 2024 elections, stating that it contradicts the Constitution. The MK handed down its decision today, nullifying Article 222 of the Election Law that required presidential candidates to be backed by political parties holding at least 20% of seats in the House of Representatives (DPR) or receiving 25% of the national vote in the previous legislative elections.
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Reactions from Political Parties and Key Figures:
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PDIP
- Ganjar Pranowo, PDIP’s chairperson, has called on all political parties to prepare for the change in regulations following the MK’s decision.
- Dolfie Othniel Fredric Palit, secretary of PDIP’s DPR faction, urged the DPR and the government to reconvene and revise the election law promptly.
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Golkar
- Bahlil Lahadalia, Golkar’s chairman, expressed respect for the MK’s decision but emphasized the importance of maintaining the strength of the presidential system.
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NasDem
- Irma Suryani Chaniago, NasDem’s chairperson, deemed the MK’s decision risky, as it was based on a lawsuit filed by a few individuals rather than broad public participation.
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Yusril Ihza Mahendra (Minister of Law and Human Rights)
- The minister praised the MK’s decision, stating that all parties must respect and comply with the court’s final and binding verdict.
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Mahfud MD (Former Minister of Defense and former MK Chief Justice)
- Mahfud welcomed the MK’s judgment, viewing it as a landmark decision that could deter the misuse of the threshold to disenfranchise voters and political parties.
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PKB
- Jazilul Fawaid, PKB’s deputy chairperson, described the MK’s decision as a New Year’s gift and expressed confidence that the MK, DPR, and government could address the repercussions collectively.
- President Joko Widodo
- The President called on all parties to respect and comply with the MK’s final and binding decision, acknowledging that the ruling may lead to a surge in presidential candidates in the upcoming elections.
Implications and Next Steps:
The abolition of the presidential threshold raises several questions and potential challenges, including the need for a potential revision of the election law and the alteration of the political landscape for the 2024 elections and beyond. All stakeholders, including political parties, the DPR, the government, and election monitoring bodies, must now collaborate to navigate the implications of this significant judicial decision.
tags: Indonesian Politics; Constitutional Court; Presidential Election; Election Law
