Jokowi Responds to Constitutional Court Challenge Over Presidential Relatives Running in Election

President Joko Widodo has responded to a petition filed at Indonesia’s Constitutional Court (MK) seeking to ban family members of the sitting president and vice president from running in presidential elections.

“Every individual, every citizen has the same constitutional standing,” Widodo said when met at his residence in Solo on Friday, 27 February.

According to Widodo, this equality of rights grants all individuals the right to submit judicial review of laws to the Constitutional Court.

“So anyone can submit a judicial review to the Constitutional Court concerning anything related to laws,” he said.

Widodo also called on all parties to respect the proceedings currently underway at the Constitutional Court, stating he was prepared to respect whatever decision the court makes from the petition.

“So let us wait for the Constitutional Court process. The Constitutional Court’s decision must be respected,” said the father of Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka.

Previously, two advocates, Raden Nuh and Dian Amalia, challenged Law No. 7 of 2017 concerning General Elections (Pemilu) at the Constitutional Court.

The petition, numbered 81/PUU-XXIV/2026, requested that the Constitutional Court prohibit close relatives of the sitting president or vice president from running as candidates for president or vice president.

Raden Nuh and Dian Amalia argued that the absence of such a prohibition risks creating conflicts of interest and nepotism.