Jakarta. Despite a “strong reprimand” from the ethics council against top election organizers regarding the candidacy of Gibran Rakabuming Raka, the eldest son of President Joko Widodo, he remains a legitimate vice-presidential candidate for the upcoming election, an election official said on Monday.

Gibran, 36, became eligible to contest the election following the Constitutional Court's amendment of the candidate’s minimum age requirement to 40 on October 16. The revision included exemptions for candidates who have served or are serving in elected public offices, paving the way for the mayor of Solo.

However, the General Election Commission (KPU) accepted Gibran’s candidacy without first amending its own regulations, which still required a presidential/vice-presidential candidate to be at least 40 years old without exceptions.

On Monday, the Ethics Council for Election Organizers (DKPP) found KPU Chairman Hasyim Asy’ari and all commissioners to have breached ethics, issuing a “strong and final” reprimand against them.

In response, KPU Commissioner Idham Holik said that the verdict doesn’t annul Gibran’s candidacy as the running mate of presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto.

Idham argued that the KPU accepted Gibran’s nomination solely to comply with the constitution as mandated in the latest Constitutional Court ruling, which is final and binding.

"We declared the legality of the registration process by all presidential and vice-presidential candidates on November 13, 2023, based on existing laws," Idham told the Jakarta Globe’s sister publication Beritasatu.

"The DKPP indeed expressed appreciation to the KPU for implementing constitution mandates with regard to the Constitutional Court ruling," he added.

The reprimand against all KPU commissioners is solely concerned with procedural mishaps following the Constitutional Court ruling.

The DKPP criticized the KPU for taking too long to hold a hearing with the House of Representatives and the government on the abrupt revisions of the candidates’ minimum age requirement.

The court ruling was issued on October 16, but the KPU requested a consultation with the House after a week. Gibran registered his candidacy with the KPU on October 25, when the commission still required a vice-presidential candidate to be at least 40.

Prabowo’s electability has improved significantly since Gibran became his running mate in October. He is now the frontrunner in the February 14 election according to many polls, with a two-digit lead over rivals Ganjar Pranowo and Anies Baswedan.

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