Court ends electoral dispute hearings
Muninggar Sri Saraswati, Jakarta
The Constitutional Court ended on Friday the hectic hearings on electoral disputes by granting more seats at regental legislatures for three minor parties.
The Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) reaped eight regental council seats in Selama, Banyuasin, Pandeglang, Langkat, South Tapanuli, East Barito, Tulangbawang and Bandar Lampung. However, 15 other cases were thrown out by the court in Friday's hearing.
"We ordered the KPU to implement the verdicts," court president Jimly Asshidiqie told the hearing, referring to the General Elections Commission.
The Democratic Party and the Social Democratic Labor Party (PBSD) secured one seat each in the North Sulawesi council and the Pelalawan council in Riau, the court ruled.
The court rejected 15 other cases filed by the Democratic Party and 11 by PBSD. The rejection was due to administrative flaws as well as lack of evidence.
The court has managed to honor its deadline to settle the electoral disputes by June 20. The KPU is set to announce the final results of the April 5 legislative election later this month.
The KPU announced its temporary results of the election on May 5, pending the decision from the Constitutional Court.
The decision by the court has revised the distribution of seats, in both the House of Representatives and regional councils.
Political parties that won additional seats in the House are the Prosperous Peace Party (PDS), the National Mandate Party (PAN), the Reform Star Party (PBR) and the Pioneers' Party. They each got an additional seat.
Those that lost their seats in the House were the Freedom Bull Nationalist Party (PNBK), the United Democratic Nationhood Party (PPDK) and the Democratic Party. The latter lost two seats in Papua and Central Sulawesi.
The court has also altered the distribution of seats in regional councils across the country. Although some parties have raised objections, the KPU will implement the decision of the court as the court's decision is final and binding.
Electoral dispute resolution through the Constitutional Court is something new to the country.