Ihsan Reliubun, Jakarta – The General Elections Commission (KPU) has been sued on account of violating KPU's regulations after passing Gibran Rakabuming Raka's registration for vice presidential candidacy. The lawsuit was submitted by Brian Demas Wicaksono to the Central Jakarta District Court.

"First of all, KPU's decision to accept the registration of any potential candidates must be based on KPU's regulations," said Brian's legal counsel Sunandiantoro in a WhatsApp message on Monday, October 30.

The regulation in question was the KPU Regulation No. 19 of 2023 on Presidential-Vice Presidential Candidate Registration. The regulation explicitly provided that the required age to run for the presidency or vice presidency was 40 years old. Meanwhile, Gibran Rakabuming is only 36 years old.

Sunandiantoro added that the regulation also provided the steps to run for the elections. Those steps included registration, verification, and confirmation.

"Gibran Rakabuming was clearly unfit for the registration criteria, and it should have barred him from proceeding to the next steps including medical check-up and verification," he said.

Concerning the recent Constitutional Court decision, Sunandiantoro explained, that the phrase "having been acting as a regional head" is not yet included in KPU's regulation. Thus, the registration process is still under the KPU Regulation No. 19 of 2023, with a minimum age of 40 years old to run in the elections.

The lawsuit is worth Rp70.5 trillion, derived from the 2024 General Elections budget. "[The fines] are based on Sri Mulyani's (Finance Minister) statement on the 2024 General Elections budget," he said.

On the other side, KPU's chairman Hasyim Asy'ari stated that he would entertain the lawsuit. "If there is a summon for a hearing, we will come," he said.

Source: https://en.tempo.co/read/1790699/kpu-sued-for-rp70-5-trn-after-passing-gibran-rakabumings-candidac