Jimly says president free to choose 2 Gibran replacements

Constitutional law expert Jimly Asshiddiqie said the president is free to nominate two candidates to replace Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka without having to choose them from the coalition parties. In Jakarta on Friday, the former Chief Justice of the Constitutional Court said the reference for a vice presidential vacancy is Article 8 paragraph (2) of the 1945 Constitution, which requires MPR to hold a session no later than 60 days to select one of the two names proposed by the president. According to Jimly, the party-origin requirement applies only if the offices of president and vice president become vacant at the same time, as set out in Article 8 paragraph (3). He also criticized the explanation of the MD3 Law for introducing a norm not found in the constitution and said the provision is now being challenged at the Constitutional Court.