DPR approves KPU's regional candidacy rules aligned with MK rulings

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Commission II of the House of Representatives (DPR) has approved a draft regulation by the General Elections Commission (KPU) regarding regional head candidacy, aligning it with the Constitutional Court's (MK) rulings.

"Do we all approve of this? Thank God," said Ahmad Doli Kurnia, the commission's chairman, during a hearing session with the KPU and the government in Jakarta on Sunday.

"We all understand that the draft regulation fully incorporates MK Decisions Number 60 and 70, without any omissions or additions," he said.

On Thursday, the DPR postponed the ratification of the Regional Election Bill (RUU Pilkada) during a plenary meeting due to a lack of quorum, following protests in various regions opposing the bill.

The bill has sparked controversy due to a brief discussion on Wednesday between the DPR's Legislative Body and the government, which was deemed inconsistent with the two MK decisions issued on Tuesday.

MK Decision Number 60 adjusted the threshold for nominating political parties or coalitions of political parties to propose regional head and deputy regional head candidate pairs.

The ruling allows political parties without seats in a Regional Representative Council (DPRD) to nominate candidate pairs for regional head elections. The court determined that the number of valid votes in a region will solely determine the eligibility of political parties or coalitions to propose candidates.

The new thresholds will be based on a province's or district's voter population, ranging from 6.5 percent to 10 percent.

MK Decision Number 70 confirmed that the minimum age limit for regional head candidates is counted from the time the candidate pair is determined by the KPU.

With this approval, the minimum age for gubernatorial candidates will be set at 30, and for regent and mayoral candidates at 25.

This decision overturns the previous interpretation of the Supreme Court (MA) decision, which stated that the age limit is counted from the time the elected candidate pair is inaugurated.

These political dynamics have prevented Kaesang Pangarep, the youngest son of President Joko Widodo, from running in the regional head elections this year, as the KPU is scheduled to announce eligible candidates on September 22, when he will still be 29 years old.

He was expected to run for vice governor of Central Java before the Gerindra Party abandoned its plan to nominate him and announced Taj Yasin Maimoen as the running mate of Ahmad Luthfi.