Indonesia: Court Rejects Moves To Change Eligibility Rules For President

An Indonesian court on Monday has rejected several petitions seeking to change eligibility rules for presidential and vice presidential candidates.

The Constitutional Court was delivering rulings on a series of similar petitions on Monday, amid growing criticism of what sources say are efforts by outgoing President Joko Widodo to build a political dynasty and retain influence long after leaving office.

The world’s third-biggest democracy is set to vote in simultaneous presidential and legislative elections on February 14 next year.

Chief Justice Anwar Usman, who is the President’s brother-in-law and leads a panel of nine judges, rejected petitions to lower the minimum age to 35 from 40 and to allow anyone with civil service experience to run for President and Vice President

The judges said determining the age limit was up to lawmakers and that the petition had no “reasoning according to law”.

If granted, the petition would have allowed the President’s son and mayor of Surakarta city, Gibran Rakabuming Raka to contest the February election most likely as a running mate.

Gibran did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

REUTERS