Consider the Challenges Ahead, President Jokowi Choosing Palguna to Replace Hamdan Zoelva in MK

I Dewa Gede Palguna

President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has been studied carefully, the proposed of the two candidates of the Constitution Judge in the Constitutional Court (MK), that submitted by the Selection Committee (Pansel) led by Prof. Saldi Isra, namely: I Dewa Gede Palguna and Yuliandri.

Taking into account to the challenges of the Constitutional Court (MK) forward, President Jokowi finally choosing the Lecturer of Constitutional Law at the Faculty of Law, University of Udayana, Bali, I Dewa Gede Palguna, as new constitutional judges from government element to replace Hamdan Zoelva, who ended his term on Tuesday (6/1).

Minister of State Secretary (Mensesneg) Pratikno said, the President Jokowi has signed President Decree on the appointment of Palguna as Constitutional Judge in the Constitutional Court (MK) on Tuesday (6/1). Furthermore, together with the Constitutional Judge from the Supreme Court (MK) elements, Suhartoyo, they would have taken the oath and promise in the presence of the President at the Presidential Palace, Jakarta, on Wednesday (7/1).

Believe to Pansel

Mensesneg said, in addition to the track record of the candidates, the President considers the needs of the Constitutional Court (MK), and look at the candidates competence, integrity, and independence. President determines the choice to Palguna also based on consideration of the challenges that will be faced by the Constitutional Court (MK) in the future.

Regarding the background of Palguna who had been a member of the PDI-P, Mensesneg Pratikno said that the President had been entrusted to the selection committee (Pansel) in the process of checking the independence of the candidate concerned.

“He had been a member of the Constitutional Court in the first period and proved in pansel assessment showing the performance of the independence and integrity,” Pratikno said. (*/ES)