Constitutional Court Judge "Angry", Thinks KPU Is Not Serious in Dealing with Election Disputes

The 2024 Legislative Election dispute hearing continues without the presence of KPU commissioners. The Constitutional Court judges also considered that the KPU was not serious.

KOMPAS/RONY ARIYANTO NUGROHO

Constitutional Judge Arief Hidayat pounded his gavel as a sign of changing the petitioner's request during the hearing of the dispute over the election results for the legislative election in panel 3 courtroom of the Constitutional Court, Jakarta, Monday (29/4/2024). The Constitutional Court began holding a series of hearings regarding the disputes over the legislative election results.

JAKARTA, KOMPAS - Constitutional Judge Arief Hidayat was angry when he found that not a single commissioner from the General Election Commission (KPU) was present in the 2024 Legislative Election dispute case hearing in panel 3 which he led. He assessed that the KPU is not serious in responding to election result dispute issues. This lack of seriousness has been evident since the settlement of last presidential election disputes.

"This is the KPU, really, it's not serious, what is this? Please pass on! The KPU must be serious. So, since the presidential election, the KPU has not seriously responded to these issues. Yes... this must be conveyed to the commissioner. How many commissioners are there?" said Arief when he found out that none of the KPU commissioners were present at panel 3, Thursday (2/5/2024).

At that time, Arief wanted to confirm the information conveyed by the attorney for the National Mandate Party (PAN) who said that the ballot box was opened in Lahat Regency, South Sumatra, on April 27 2024. According to the attorney's statement, the Lahat KPU opened the ballot box for the Lahat 2 electoral district for the reason of taking evidence to prove the legislative election dispute.

However, the legal counsel for PAN questioned why the evidence collected did not match what was needed in court. According to him, the KPU should have taken document C as the result, but instead they took document D as the result.

Also read: KPU Ensures PHPU Dispute Does Not Disturb the Regional Election Stages

Upon obtaining the information, the presiding judges in the trial wished to confirm the truth of the opening of the ballot box to the KPU. However, after being asked several times, no one was able to answer the question.

This is the KPU, really, it's not serious, what is this? Please pass on! The KPU must be serious. So, since the presidential election, the KPU has not seriously responded to these issues. Yes... this must be conveyed to the commissioner. How many commissioners are there?

KOMPAS/RONY ARIYANTO NUGROHO

The atmosphere of the PHPU legislative election hearing in the panel 3 courtroom of the Constitutional Court, Jakarta, Monday (29/4/2024).

A staff member of the KPU secretariat who was present during the trial also revealed that they have not received any information regarding the matter. Similarly, KPU's appointed legal representative to handle the legislative election disputes submitted by PAN from Bengawan Law Firm has not received any information about it.

"I am from the Secretariat of the Indonesian KPU. "Permission, the leadership has an event...," said one KPU employee.

I am from the Secretariat of the Indonesian KPU. Permission, the leader has an event...

”You can't you can. Important here. How is the response," Arief replied. He asked again, "How many commissioners are there?"

The KPU officer responded that the two commissioners, Yulianto Sudrajat and Idham Holik, should have been present on panel 3 of the hearing on the legislative election dispute. However, Idham is currently busy with technical preparations for the regional elections, while Yulianto is consulting with the provincial KPU.

"This means that in the Constitutional Court it is considered unimportant," said Arief.

"There is already a legal representative," answered the KPU employee.

"Then, the attorney will answer. Who is the attorney?" Arief asked back.

If so, the attorney will answer. Who is the attorney?

KOMPAS/RONY ARIYANTO NUGROHO

The officers of the Constitutional Court (MK) are busy receiving complete documents for the hearing of the election dispute case at MK in Jakarta on Tuesday (April 30th, 2024). Although the legislative election dispute trial has already begun, MK is still accepting supplementary document submissions from the applicants.

Asked about it, the KPU's legal counsel from the Bengawan law firm said that the regional KPU has not provided information about it. "And, we have not confirmed," said the KPU's legal counsel.

Arief also urged the KPU and its legal counsel to be more serious. Solving the dispute over the legislative election results is a serious matter. "This concerns the constitutional rights of citizens, voters, and legislative candidates. It must be resolved as best as possible. The court itself must take this seriously," he said.

This concerns the constitutional rights of citizens, voters, and the constitutional rights of the candidates. It must be resolved as best as possible. The court should take it seriously and settle this matter.

He continued, "The democratic country of Indonesia is a democratic country based on Pancasila. Everyone has to be serious. Article 22 of the 1945 Constitution mandates that general elections must be held freely and fairly. The Stakeholders involved must really organize it as well as possible in good faith. That must be our record."

Fight for seats in Lahat and OKI

In South Sumatra, PAN is fighting for votes in two different constituencies, namely Ogan Komering Ilir 6 and Lahat 2. In the OKI 6 constituency, PAN questions the addition of 119 votes for the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle. They argue that there was an error in vote counting at 20 polling stations.

We ask for a recount of the votes.

"We ask for a recount of the votes," said PAN's attorney.

Also read: A Look at the MK's "Kitchen" Handling Election Results Disputes

Meanwhile, there is also a question raised by PAN regarding the votes obtained in the Lahat District 2 constituency, which is claimed to have decreased by 155 votes. PAN's votes are suspected to have shifted to Perindo with the same amount.

"Due to the difference in numbers, PAN did not receive a seat. The Party of the Nation's Awakening received the seat instead. If decided by the Constitutional Court, PAN will receive the fifth seat, displacing PKB," said the legal representative of PAN.