JAKARTA (Yosefardi) – The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) urges judges of Constitutional Court with political-background to turn off from the election of new Chief Justice, to replace Akil Mochtar, graft suspect.
Ahmad Basarah, PDI-P lawmaker at the House of Representatives (DPR) Commission III, is hoping that new Chief Justice candidates should have the integrity, good track record, and free from graft allegation.
New Chief Justice, he demands, must be able to keep the Constitutional Court to remain neutral and fair in handling cases and disputes, especially ahead of next year’s legislative and presidential elections.
Observers and activists from Non-Government Organizations (NGO’s), meanwhile, came with a stronger view. They previously suggested that the composition of nine Constitutional Court Judges must be free from politicians.
The Constitutional Court is expected to conduct an election to choose new Chief Justice on Friday (Nov. 1).
The remaining eight Constitutional Court Judges will likely competing each other to become new Chief Justice.
They are Hamdan Zoelva, Patrialis Akbar, Harjono, Arief Hidayat, Maria Farida Indarti, Muhammad Alim, Ahmad Fadlil Sumadi, and Anwar Usman.
Hamdan Zoelva and Patrialis Akbar are politicians and nominated by President SBY. Akil Mochtar is also former politician from Golkar Party.
Hamdan is former politician from the Crescent Start Party (PBB) led by former Law Minister Yusril Ihza Mahendra. While Patrialis is former politician from the National Mandate Party (PAN) led by Hatta Rajasa, Coordinating Minister for Economy and father-in-law of President SBY’s youngest son.(haryantos@yosefardi.biz)