Jakarta. During the initial hearing of the electoral dispute trial at the Constitutional Court (MK) on Wednesday, presidential candidate Anies Baswedan raised concerns over what he deemed numerous irregularities that compromised the integrity of Indonesia's democratic process during the 2024 Presidential Election.

According to Anies, the presidential election should represent the recognition of the fundamental rights of every citizen in determining the future of the country.

"Although the voting results have been officially announced by the General Election Commission (KPU), those figures do not automatically reflect the overall quality of democracy," said Anies.

On March 20, the KPU declared Prabowo Subianto-Gibran Rakabuming Raka as the elected presidential pair in the 2024 Presidential Election with a total of 96,214,691 votes, surpassing the pair of Anies Baswedan-Muhaimin Iskandar with 40,971,906 votes, and the pair of Ganjar Pranowo-Mahfud MD with 27,040,878 votes.

Anies underscored the importance of conducting the presidential election while upholding the principles of freedom, honesty, and justice. He emphasized that this is not merely a ceremonial act but a fundamental prerequisite for constructing and preserving a robust, secure, and enduring democratic framework.

"Conducting elections that are free, honest, and fair is pivotal in providing strong legitimacy to the elected government, fostering public trust, and laying a solid foundation for governmental institutions," explained Anies.

During the trial's outset, Anies Baswedan was accompanied by his running mate, Muhaimin Iskandar, and his legal team, which included Ari Yusuf Amir, Zainudin Paru, Ahmad Yani, Refly Harun, and Bambang Widjojanto. 

Subsequently, the Constitutional Court scheduled a hearing for presidential candidate Ganjar Pranowo, represented by a legal team led by Todung Mulya Lubis, with Henry Yosodiningrat, Maqdir Ismail, Ifdhal Kasim, and Finsensius Mendrofa as members.

The rival candidates are disputing the election results based on an argument that Gibran’s candidacy was unlawful due to the controversial Constitutional Court ruling that amended the minimum age requirement of 40 years old.

Gibran, 37, became eligible to contest after the court made an exception for candidates who have served or are serving in elected public office. The eldest son of President Joko Widodo was elected as the mayor of Solo three years ago.

The ruling sparked controversy because it was issued by a panel presided over by Constitutional Court Chief Justice Anwar Usman, who is the president’s brother-in-law. A subsequent ethics tribunal found Anwar to have violated ethics, prompting the appointment of a new chief justice

The Prabowo camp argued that Gibran’s candidacy did not violate any laws. Yusril Ihza Mahendra, who led Prabowo’s legal team, highlighted Gibran's eligibility to contest based on a ruling issued by the Constitutional Court itself, the very court handling the ongoing case.

"If they dispute Mr. Gibran’s candidacy due to the Constitutional Court ruling, they are not actually challenging the KPU and [Prabowo] as the defendants. They are challenging the Constitutional Court directly," said Yusril.

A recent survey conducted by pollster Lingkaran Survei Indonesia (LSI) Denny Januar Ali indicated that the majority of voters who supported unsuccessful presidential candidates Anies Baswedan and Ganjar Pranowo have accepted the outcome of the 2024 Presidential Election.

"Filing a lawsuit with the MK is a constitutional right and a legal avenue. However, it's important to avoid using the court as a means to hold candidates or their campaign teams 'accountable' for their loss or to seek scapegoats," Ardian Sopa, a senior researcher at Lingkaran Survei Indonesia (LSI) Denny JA, said on Wednesday.

Ardian warned that persistently rejecting the KPU's decision and accusing them of fraud could foster negative public sentiment, rather than garnering support.

From April 19th to 21st, a judges' deliberation meeting (RPH) will be convened, during which the Constitutional Court judges discuss the cases of election result disputes and decision-making. Subsequently, a plenary session to deliver interim judgments, final judgments, or determinations will be conducted on April 22.