"We in the government always have a position because we will always follow the constitutional concept. Therefore, we will abide by whatever the MK decides over the election law," Minister of Law and Human Rights Affairs, Amir Syamsuddin commented at the House of Representatives (DPR) building here on Wednesday.
The minister pointed that he was aware of the controversies over the judicial review of Law No.42/2008. But he stressed on the fact that the government will not take a position to raise its opinion over the issue.
"We do not want to exert influence on the judicial review process. Although it is logical to make a comment, yet too many comments will cause a problem," he noted.
In his position as a legal practitioner, Amir sees benefit in the holding of a simultaneous elections. So, it is just ideal to hold a simultaneous election in 2019.
According to Amir, gauging from the preparations it has made so far, the General Elections Commission (KPU) will spend a large amount of money to organize a simultaneous legislative and presidential election this year.
"But what I am saying here by no means is intended to influence the MK in deciding over its judicial review of the law," Amir stressed.
Constitutional expert Yusril Ihza Manendra has filed a judicial review request with the MK of Law No. 42/2008 on Presidential and Vice Presidential Elections.
Yusril lodged the request for judicial review to prove that the holding of general elections so far was unconstitutional, because the 1945 Constitution stipulates that political parties had the right to nominate their presidential and vice presidential candidates.
But Law No. 42/2008 among others regulates that a political party should meet a presidential threshold before it can nominate its presidential and vice presidential candidates.
Based on the law, a political party will have a presidential threshold if it wins 25 percent of the national votes in the legislative elections or 20 percent of the seats in the House of Representatives.
The MK began a court session, on Tuesday, to hold the judicial review request filed by Yusril.(*)
Editor: Heru Purwanto
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