Constitutional Court to handle poll disputes

The Supreme Court on Wednesday officially transferred its authority to handle regional election dispute cases to the Constitutional Court.

Supreme Court chief Bagir Manan (right) said the transfer of authority had been agreed by the two courts and was in accordance with the 2008 law on regional administration.

He said the Constitutional Court would only deal with cases that had not been handled by the Supreme Court.

"As a new jurisdiction, the Constitutional Court will only deal with new cases while the Supreme Court will continue with its old cases," Bagir said.

He said his court had presided over four regional election dispute cases out of a total of 74 cassation and 24 judicial review cases.

Constitutional Court chief Mohammad Mahfud MD (left) said his court was ready to exercise its new authority.

"We have formulated law procedures for the settlement of regional election disputes that will be enacted starting Thursday, including by the General Elections Commission (KPU)," he said, as KPU chairman Abdul Hafiz Anshory (center) looked on.

He said the Constitutional Court would only handle vote counting disputes and that other issues, including criminal cases, would remain under the domain of the Supreme Court.

Mahfud said the coming month would see five mayors and regents and one governor elected.

"I hope there will be no disputes in the upcoming regional elections." -- JP/Desy Nurhayati