1Berita – East Java Governor Khofifah Indar Parawansa welcomes the Constitutional Court’s decision that approves the lawsuit regarding the term of office for regional heads, which was initially shortened by Law Number 10 of 2016 due to the implementation of the simultaneous regional elections in 2024.

According to her, the term of office for regional heads should not be shortened and must be completed according to the applicable rules.

“The term of office cannot be reduced even by a day, is that the rule?” said Khofifah at the Grahadi State Building in Surabaya, East Java, on Friday (22/12).

She stated that with the Constitutional Court’s decision, her term along with East Java Vice Governor Emil Elestianto Dardak would not end on December 31, 2023, but would continue until February 13, 2024.

“Yes [until February 13, 2024]. This morning the Secretary-General of the Ministry of Home Affairs called,” she said, hinting at the possibility of running for East Java Governor again in 2024.

Thus, according to Khofifah’s claim, she can complete her programs in East Java more freely until the end of her term in February next year. She will also inaugurate several Rutilahu projects in various regions.

“Many programs that should have been inaugurated won’t follow if we stop in December,” she said.

Nevertheless, she admitted that she would have to say goodbye for a while from East Java because she has to perform the Umrah pilgrimage on January 1, 2024. Khofifah explained that the journey to the Holy Land of Mecca, Saudi Arabia, has been planned for a long time.

“But on January 1, I will perform Umrah; this is a long-planned program, my friends,” said Khofifah.

Separately, Emil hopes that the Constitutional Court’s decision brings benefits to the community.

“If it is in line with our understanding, hopefully, this decision brings benefits to the community,” he said.

Previously, the Constitutional Court granted the lawsuit of seven regional heads related to the end of their terms of office.

The regional heads who filed the material test were Maluku Governor Murad Ismail, East Java Vice Governor Emil Dardak, Bogor Mayor Bima Arya Sugiarto, Bogor Deputy Mayor Didie A Rachim, Gorontalo Mayor Marten AnTaha, Padang Mayor Hendri Septa, and Tarakan Mayor Khairul.

They filed a material test of Article 201 paragraph (5) of Law Number 10 of 2016 (Regional Election Law), which regulates that regional heads elected in 2018 will serve until 2023. Their argument is that although they were elected in the 2018 Regional Election, the petitioners were only inaugurated in 2019.

If their term of office were to end in 2023, then their leadership period would not be complete for five years, as stipulated by the law.