Surprise delay to Indonesia elections labelled unconstitutional
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Loading... - Amirah Yong
- 31 Mar 2023
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A Jakarta court has ruled that elections set for 2024 cannot take place until at least 2025, a decision that seems to go against the constitution.
Indonesia’s presidential and general elections have been thrown into jeopardy following a surprise ruling to delay voting by a court in Jakarta, prompting widespread condemnation of the shock, and seemingly unconstitutional, decision.
The Central Jakarta District Court ruled earlier this month that the elections – scheduled to take place in February 2024 – should be delayed for two and a half years, meaning that the earliest the elections could go ahead would be in 2025.
The judge’s ruling followed after a lawsuit was brought by a relatively unknown political party – Prima – which had complained about not being allowed to register to contest the elections.
A three-judge panel ruled that Prima was unfairly disenfranchised when it was unable to submit the required documents electronically due to an error caused by the General Elections Commission website.
But the decision to delay two elections to accommodate a fringe political party has angered many in Indonesia – and raised questions about the court’s motives.
“Considering the backlash the recent court’s decision has caused from both the public and political elites, it is clear that the majority of Indonesians want the elections to go ahead,” Ian Wilson, a lecturer in politics and security studies at Murdoch University in Perth, told Al Jazeera. Read More…
