Ganjar-Mahfud contest Indonesian Presidential Election results in Constitutional Court

INDONESIA: Presidential-vice presidential candidate pair number 3, Ganjar Pranowo and Mahfud MD have officially announced their decision to contest the results of the 2024 presidential election before the Constitutional Court (MK) on Thursday (21 March).

The General Election Commission (KPU) declared the victory of the number two candidate pair, Prabowo Subianto and Gibran Rakabuming, with over 96 million votes and winning in 36 provinces.

Ganjar explained that they extensively gathered input from community leaders regarding the election process, revealing numerous issues such as the involvement of officials at various levels, the distribution of aid influencing voters, and instances of money politics and intimidation.

Despite communicating these concerns to the KPU and election supervisory agency, not all reports received responses.

“Therefore, after the announcement by the KPU last night, the Ganjar-Mahfud team has agreed that everything must be straightened out so that democracy can run well. ”

“So the final bastion is the Constitutional Court,” emphasized Ganjar.

They have assembled a legal team to file a lawsuit with the Constitutional Court, aiming to address the reported irregularities and restore confidence in the electoral system.

Ganjar emphasized the importance of the Constitutional Court in upholding democracy and expressed hope for a fair judgment that would shed light on the election process and meet public expectations.

Meanwhile, Mahfud emphasized that their lawsuit was not solely for their benefit but for the future of Indonesian democracy, aiming to prevent any damage to democratic principles and the rule of law.

The lawsuit is scheduled to be registered with the Constitutional Court on 22 or 23 March.

Despite their legal challenge, Ganjar affirmed their willingness to accept the court’s decision, emphasizing their commitment to completing the process and respecting the outcome, regardless of the verdict.

Previously, presidential candidate pair Anies Baswedan and his running mate, Muhaimin Iskandar, who were numbered one on the ballot, responded to the final results of the 2024 election announced by the Indonesian General Election Commission (KPU) on Wednesday (20 Mar).

Their response was conveyed through a statement posted on Anies Baswedan’s official YouTube account, where they stressed the critical importance of honesty, fairness, and cleanliness in the electoral process.

During his address, Anies underscored the significance of an open and fair election process, emphasizing the need for it to be free from any form of pressure to ensure that every eligible voice is heard and respected.

He highlighted the necessity of maintaining the integrity of the electoral process to uphold legitimacy, trust, and inclusivity in the election outcomes.

On Thursday (21 Mar), Anies took legal action by filing a case at the Constitutional Court to challenge the outcome of an election overwhelmingly won by Prabowo Subianto.

Anies stated that the aim of the case was to ensure democracy was improved, citing numerous problems with the election that needed to be addressed and corrected.

Anies declined to concede after the results were released on Wednesday (20 Mar), and his team alleged that the current administration had unfairly sought to influence the contest, a claim rejected by authorities.

“The process and result are both important. When there is a problematic process, there will be problematic results,” Anies emphasized during a press conference.

“From the policy aspect, regulations, down to the execution (of the election), there were many problems, and we want them corrected so they are not repeated.”

The Anies team has lodged complaints about the widespread allocation of social assistance, such as rice, fertilizer, and cash handouts, in key electoral areas, which they argue influenced the vote.