I think the judges do not understand the basics of legal taxonomy.
Malang, E Java (ANTARA) - Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs Mahfud MD opined that the Central Jakarta Court's verdict demanding the General Elections Commission (KPU) to halt the 2024 electoral preparations is a big mistake.

Hence, he fully supported KPU to appeal against the court ruling.

"Yes, (the KPU) has announced that it will appeal (against the verdict). We support it," Mahfud remarked here on Friday.

Earlier, on Thursday (March 2), in response to a lawsuit filed by the Prima Party that challenged the KPU decision to disqualify the party from contesting the 2024 general election, the Central Jakarta Court ruled that the commission must halt the ongoing process.

Prima Party was declared by the KPU to have failed to pass the administrative verification process and would therefore be unable to partake in the elections.

The court also ordered the KPU to restart the entire election process from the start in the next 28 months.

Mahfud said the court's ruling has shown the judges' failure to understand the legal taxonomy.

"I think the judges do not understand the basics of legal taxonomy. All legal experts, those who have knowledge in legal issues, especially regarding legal taxonomy, said that it is a big mistake," he noted.

According to the minister, the Central Jakarta Court's ruling could not be implemented, as it is not the district court's authority to settle disputes related to the general elections.

It would be the authority of the State Administration Court (PTUN) or the Election Supervisory Board (Bawaslu) to settle any dispute in the early stages of the elections, he stated.

Mahfud stated that disputes in the result of general elections would be settled by the Constitution Court (MK).

"That is what the law said," he stressed.

The minister has also questioned the use of civil law in handling the case while the KPU is a public legal entity.

"Civil law is for private entity. Therefore, the KPU should fight (against the verdict), and the public will support it," he stated.

Prima Party filed its lawsuit against the KPU on December 8, 2022.

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Translator: Vicki Febrianto, Sri Haryati
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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