Democrat and Golkar Parties Respond to Lawsuit Seeking to Bar Presidential Family Members from Running for Office
JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - The Democrat and Golkar parties have responded to a lawsuit filed with the Constitutional Court challenging the Election Law, which seeks to prevent family members of the President or Vice President from running for President or Vice President.
The Secretary-General of the Democrat Party, Herman Khaeron, said that filing a judicial review is a constitutional right guaranteed to every citizen.
“Yes, filing a lawsuit with the Constitutional Court is the right of every citizen. It is the right of every citizen, and of course, we must respect it,” said Herman when met at the DPR RI building, Thursday (27/2/2026).
“As for what the outcome will be, we will just wait for the decision of the Constitutional Court. So we just respect it, because that is the right of every citizen,” he continued.
“Yes, the judges will consider it. We are not involved in the reasoning or discussion of this debate,” he said.
According to Herman, every lawsuit filed by the public is a legitimate right and is entirely up to the Constitutional Court to decide.
“However, if there is a community entity that files a lawsuit, then that is the right of the plaintiff, and of course, it will be up to the judges to consider what decision the Constitutional Court will make,” he said.
“It is the right of citizens to test the law against the Constitution. Let them test it. The Constitutional Court will decide,” said Sarmuji.
Previously, two lawyers, Raden Nuh and Dian Amalia, filed a request for a judicial review of Article 169 of Law Number 7 of 2017 concerning General Elections with the Constitutional Court. The request was registered with the case number 81/PUU-XXIV/2026.
In their petition, the petitioners requested that the Constitutional Court prohibit family members of the President or Vice President from running for President or Vice President.
The petitioners believe that the provisions of Article 169 of the Election Law, which do not regulate the prohibition of conflicts of interest, have the potential to open the door to nepotism and abuse of power in elections.
In addition, they argue that this condition can negate the principle of a democratic state of law and the right of citizens to obtain fair and integral elections.
In their petition, the petitioners requested that the Constitutional Court declare Article 169 of the Election Law inconsistent with the 1945 Constitution, as long as it is not interpreted that the nomination of the President and Vice President must be free from conflicts of interest arising from family relations with the incumbent President or Vice President.
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