In Indonesia, constitutional court creates exception to age requirement to run for offices of president and vice-president

An Indonesian court has made a controversial exception allowing the eldest son of outgoing President Joko Widodo to run for vice-president in the 2024 election. In a decision that outraged critics of the president, the constitutional court ruled that candidates under the required age of 40 can seek the presidency or vice-presidency in the 14 February ballot provided they have previously held elected regional office. The decision bolsters speculation that Indonesia’s president of nearly 10 years, who is popularly known as Jokowi, is acting to retain influence by backing the defence minister Prabowo Subianto as his successor, with his eldest son and Surakarta city mayor, Gibran Rakabuming Raka, 36, as running mate. Deciding on a petition that challenged the minimum age for running for the presidency and vice-presidency, Judge M Guntur Hamzah, while not setting aside the age restriction in all cases, said it would be an “injustice” against younger Indonesians with experience in government posts.
Read the full article here: The Guardian