JAKARTA - Indonesia's Constitutional Court will next week rule on a petition seeking to lower the minimum age of presidential and vice-presidential candidates in elections.The world's third-biggest democracy is set to vote in simultaneous presidential and legislative elections in February next year.The president's son and mayor of Surakarta city Gibran Rakabuming Raka has not announced any intention to run.
But politicians supporting the campaign of leading presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto have called for Mr Gibran to become Mr Prabowo's running mate.The court has received seven judicial review requests calling for the age limit to be lowered to 35. Mr Gibran is 36. One of the petitioners, the Indonesian Solidarity Party argued the age limit was discriminatory, according to court minutes. The party is currently chaired by the youngest son of Mr Jokowi, as the president is popularly known.
The court should not have taken the case, arguing the changes requested should have been done by putting a bill to parliament, said Mr Feri Amsari, a constitutional law expert from Andalas University.While the court is likely to keep the minimum age unchanged, judges may add a clause that allows anyone with experience working as a senior government official to be nominated, Mr Feri said, adding this will still benefit Mr Gibran if he plans to run.
Mr Prabowo and former Central Java Governor Ganjar Pranowo currently lead in a tight race, with former Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan trailing behind, according to recent opinion polls. REUTERSResend verification e-mail
Source: Law Daily Report (lawdailyreport.net)