Indonesia court to rule on president, vice-president candidates’ minimum age
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Indonesia is set to vote in simultaneous presidential and legislative elections in February 2024.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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JAKARTA – Indonesia’s Constitutional Court will next week rule on a petition seeking to lower the minimum age of presidential and vice-presidential candidates in elections.
It could pave the way for Indonesian President Joko Widodo’s eldest son to run in 2024.
The world’s third-biggest democracy is set to vote in simultaneous presidential and legislative elections in February 2024.
The court will decide on the judicial review requests on Oct 16, its spokesperson said on Tuesday.
Mr Gibran Rakabuming Raka, Mr Widodo’s son and mayor of Surakarta city, has not announced any intention to run.
But politicians supporting the campaign of leading presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto have called for Mr Gibran to become Mr Prabowo’s running mate.
The current minimum age for a presidential and vice-presidential candidate is 40.
The court has received seven judicial review requests calling for the age limit to be lowered to 35. Mr Gibran is 36.
One of the petitioners, the Indonesian Solidarity Party, argued the age limit was discriminatory, according to court minutes. The party is currently chaired by the youngest son of Mr Jokowi, as the President is popularly known.
The court should not have taken the case, said Mr Feri Amsari, a constitutional law expert from Andalas University, and argued that the changes requested should have been done by putting a Bill to Parliament.
“This is unhealthy for our democracy,” he said, noting the election process is already under way.
While the court is likely to keep the minimum age unchanged, judges may add a clause that allows anyone with experience working as a senior government official to be nominated, Mr Feri said, adding this will still benefit Mr Gibran if he plans to run.
He also highlighted that the court’s chief justice is Mr Jokowi’s brother-in-law.
Candidates are expected to formally register to the elections commission from Oct 19 to 25.
Mr Prabowo and former Central Java Governor Ganjar Pranowo currently lead in a tight race, with former Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan trailing behind, according to recent opinion polls. REUTERS
