Politic Headlines

Theindonesiatoday.com - The Constitutional  Court (MK) has on Tuesday (January 17) in its interlocutory decision of a lawsuit filed by internal affairs minister ruled against the decision of Aceh Election Commission (KIP Aceh).

The ruling might push back elections in Aceh initially scheduled on February 16, 2012. The elections were slated for October 2011, but postponed due to conflict over legal issues.

MK has decided to order KIP Aceh to re-open the registration period of Aceh elections for another seven days. The decision is taken to give a time for all parties to participate as a candidate of governor-vice governor, regent-vice regent, and mayor-vice mayor in the elections.

MK explained in its consideration that MK had actually issued an interlocutory decision on November 2, 2011 to order KIP Aceh to extend the registration period of Aceh elections for seven days. MK, however, said that it understands that there are some parties who were still waiting for a legal certainty of the elections at that time which triggered them not to registering themselves. MK then issued final decision on November 24, 2011 asking KIP Aceh to continue the elections.
MK in Tuesday's trial chaired by constitutional judge Harjono and two others judges (Mohammad Alim and Hamdan Zoelva), decided to issue another interlocutory decision asking KIP Aceh to re-open the registration period of Aceh elections because MK worried that its final decision on November 24, 2011, which gave legal basis for the election, will be meaningless.
Akmal Abzal, one executive member of KIP Aceh, responded to the latest ruling saying the commission will implementing MK’s decision. According to Akmal, the elections will likely be re-scheduled from earlier schedule of February 16, 2012. “KIP Aceh will obey MK’s interlocutory decision,” Akmal said.
Aceh Party, the biggest local political party in Aceh, is pleased with MK’s ruling. Kamaruddin Abubakar, deputy chairman of Aceh Party, said his party will immediately registering its candidates to KIP Aceh to participate in the elections. “In one or two days we’ll hold a meeting and then we’ll immediately registering our candidates,” said Kamaruddin.
According to Kamaruddin, his party will propose Zaini Abdullah and Muzakkir Manaf as governor and vice governor candidates.
The central government via internal affairs minister filed a lawsuit about postponement of Aceh elections to MK on January 10 while later Aceh Party also filed a similar lawsuit to MK on January 13.
The incumbent pair candidate of Aceh governor and vice governor, Irwandi Yusuf and Muhyan Yunan meanwhile along with thirtyfour other pair candidates firmly stated yesterday that they refuse any plan to postpone the elections in the region. They also threatened to sues Aceh Election Commission (KIP Aceh) and Internal Affairs Minister to the Constitutional Court (MK) if both parties. (haryanto@theindonesiatoday.com)

Aceh Election