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PDI-P calls against rallying at Constitutional Court
The PDI-P has called on its supporters to avoid gathering at the Constitutional Court on Monday ahead of its expected ruling on a petition to lower the age of candidacy from 40 to 35.
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Nine justices of the Constitutional Court during a hearing session at the courtroom. (JP/Seto Wardhana)
The leadership of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) has called on members and supporters not to take to the streets ahead of the verdict of the Constitutional Court on Monday, which is expected to lower the age of candidacyfor the presidential election.
If the court rules in favor of the plaintiffs’ petition to lower the minimum age if candidates contesting the presidential election, this could pave the way for Surakarta Mayor Gibran Rakabuming Raka, President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo's youngest son, to be chosen as the running mate for Gerindra Party chairman and presumptive nominee Prabowo Subianto.
PDI-P secretary-general Hasto Kristiyanto said in a statement on Monday that the presence of a big crowd at the court could give rise to violence and security issues.
"The party is concerned with the deployment of thousands of soldiers and police personnel to secure the Constitutional Court premises. This excessive security measure should be unnecessary if the Constitution is upheld and no vested interests are involved. There is also a need for statesmanship," Hasto said.
The Constitutional Court is expected to rule today on a petition requesting to lower the age of candidacy for the presidential election from the current minimum age requirement of 40.
The court has received seven separate petitions for a judicial review asking that the age limit be lowered to 35. Gibran turned 36 at the beginning of this month.
According to the court minutes, the Indonesian Solidarity Party (PSI), one of the plaintiffs, has argued that the age requirement is discriminatory. The party recently elected as its chair the President’s youngest son, Kaesang Pangarep, who is 28.
