Pres Widodo's Party Says It Won't Recognise Surprising District Court Ruling To Delay Polls

The country's largest political party, the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP), said that it would not honour a Jakarta district court to delay the 2024 election, arguing that the judicial body had no authority to decide the case. The party's Secretary General told Reuters that "the court's ruling must be annulled as it has no authority."

• The Central Jakarta district court today sowed confusion by ruling that the General Elections Commission should cease all proceedings for around two years and four months.
• The case against the Elections Commission was brought by a relatively insignificant Just Prosperous People's Party (PRIMA) after if failed to secure verification by the Commission.
• It was not immediately clear why the court ordered the delay, with the General Elections Commission noting that it would appeal the decision in a higher court, which introduces some uncertainty about the timing of the next poll.
• The election is scheduled to take place on February 14 next year, when Indonesian voters will elect the next president and parliament. The delay would postpone the poll at least until 2025.
• Three major Indonesian parties have recently came close to tapping ex-Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan as their candidate, raising pressure on President Joko Widodo's PDIP to unveil its nominee.