Indonesia Court approves revised age limit for regional election candidates: summary

FILE PHOTO: Indonesia's President Joko Widodo, his wife Iriana and son Kaesang Pangarep arrive for the royal banquet of Brunei's Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah at Nurul Iman Palace in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei October 6, 2017. REUTERS/Ahim Rani/File Photo

Source: REUTERS

What we know

Indonesia’s Supreme Court has approved changes to age limitations for candidates in the 2024 regional elections.
The ruling comes following a petition filed in court by the Garuda Party for candidates to be eligible for inauguration when they are 30 years old. This will nullify restrictions that make it possible for candidates to participate in regional elections only when the election commission first confirms their bid.
Meanwhile, President Joko Widodo’s youngest son, Kaesang who is 29, has been promoted as a potential candidate for deputy governor of Jakarta where regional elections will be held this November.
There have been concerns about ‘family politics’ in the country following events that led to Indonesia’s election of President Subianto Prabowo in March 2024 with son of the former president Widodo as his running mate.
Spokesperson for the Garuda Party, Teddy Gusnady said the move was so that “Indonesia can be led by youngsters.”

What they said

Legal experts say that for former President Widodo’s son to run as deputy governor in Jakarta, changes will also have to be made to the regional election law. "Since the age requirement is regulated in the regional election law, if there's any appeal, it should be filed to the Constitutional Court, not the Supreme Court," said legal expert Titi Anggraini. "So, Kaesang should not be able to register in the 2024 regional election," she was quoted as saying.

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