SBY voices concerns over delayed 2024 election by Jakarta court
Jakarta, Indonesianpost.com – Former Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY) has criticized the recent ruling by the Central Jakarta District Court (PN Jakpus) that ordered the General Election Commission (KPU) to suspend the remaining stages of the 2024 elections, saying that it is beyond reason.
Read also: Jakarta Central District Court Orders Election Postponement, KPU Appeals!
Following the decision in case number 757/Pdt.G/2022/PN Jkt.Pst, SBY believes that something unusual has occurred in the country.
“Having read the Central Jakarta District Court’s decision yesterday (about the elections), it feels like something strange is happening in this country. Many thoughts and actions are beyond reason. What is really going on?” said SBY on his personal Twitter account @SBYudhoyono on Friday (3/3/2023).
SBY hopes that nothing unwanted will happen during the 2024 elections as a result of the PN Jakpus ruling.
Furthermore, the Chairman of the Democratic Party’s High Council stated that the nation is being tested with various temptations. However, SBY emphasized that no one should “play with fire” and disrupt the course of politics in the country.
“But, remember our people. Let’s not play with fire, or we will get burned,” said SBY.
“Don’t sow the wind, or you will reap the whirlwind,” he added.
In his final tweet, SBY reminded all parties to protect the dignity of the Constitution regarding the elections. According to him, this can also be interpreted as a form of love for the homeland.
“Let’s save our constitution and our beloved country,” SBY concluded.
Read also: Jakarta Central District Court Orders Election Postponement!
Previously, PN Jakpus ruled in favor of Prima’s lawsuit against the KPU on Thursday (2/3/2022). In the ruling for case 757/Pdt.G/2022 filed on December 8, 2022, PN Jakpus ordered the KPU to postpone the 2024 elections.
“The defendant is ordered not to carry out the remaining stages of the 2024 General Election from the time this decision is announced and to conduct the General Election stages from the beginning for approximately 2 years, 4 months, and 7 days,” reads the fifth clause of the ruling.
Meanwhile, Prima filed a report against the KPU, claiming to have been disadvantaged in the registration and verification stages for political parties participating in the 2024 elections. In the administrative verification stage, Prima was deemed ineligible for membership and was therefore unable to proceed to the factual verification stage.
In the latest development, PN Jakpus spokesman Zulkifli Atjo stated that Prima’s lawsuit against the KPU has not yet become legally binding or inkracht. Zulkifli stated that there is still plenty of room for the defendant, in this case, the KPU, to take further legal action such as appeals and cassation if they do not agree with the court’s decision.
Read also: PKS considers Anies-Sandi duo in 2024, Gerindra responds
“So, there is an appeal and a cassation, this is not a political party dispute. This is a lawsuit against the law,” said Zulkifli when met at PN Jakarta Pusat on Thursday evening.
“I heard that the KPU has already filed an appeal in this ruling. Of course, we will wait for the decision on whether the DKI High Court agrees with PN Jakarta Pusat, we will wait for it,” he added.
Nevertheless, PN Jakarta Pusat denied the existence of a court order instructing the KPU to postpone the 2024 elections. Zulkifli emphasized that the ruling in Prima’s lawsuit was a punishment for not carrying out the remaining stages of the 2024 elections.