Jakarta. In a landmark decision on Thursday, the Constitutional Court ruled against the appointment of executives from any political party to the position of the attorney general.
The court argued that this prohibition is essential to safeguard the independence of the attorney general’s office from political influence.
The ruling was prompted by a motion filed by anti-corruption activist Jovi Andrea Bachtiar, who sought revisions to the 2021 regulation outlining the requirements for the attorney general position.
Chief Justice Suhartoyo said the president’s appointee to this crucial role must have “resigned from a managerial role in any political party for at least five years before the appointment” or must have never held such a position within a political party.
This decision aims to shield the top prosecutor’s office from potential interference by political parties and uphold its autonomy.
In the Indonesian justice system, the attorney general and the National Police chief report directly to the president, though their appointments require confirmation from the parliament. The court’s ruling ensures that individuals with recent political party affiliations are not eligible for this vital position.
Importantly, the ruling does not preclude ordinary party members from being appointed as the attorney general. However, it mandates that if a political party member receives the appointment, they must resign before the official inauguration.
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