President: Stop Term Extension Talk

TANGKAPAN LAYAR KANAL YOUTUBE SEKRETARIAT PRESIDEN

President Joko Widodo delivered a press statement regarding the Eid al-Fitr 1443 H joint leave at the Bogor Presidential Palace, West Java, Wednesday (6/4/2022). The president has ordered his ministers to stop calling for the postponement of the 2024 elections or for an extension of his term..

JAKARTA, KOMPAS – President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo has ordered his ministers to stop calling for the postponement of the 2024 elections or for an extension of his term. The order is expected not only to defuse the discourse but also to be followed by a halt to all activities related to it.

“Do not fuel discourse among the people. Focus on dealing with the difficulties we’re facing. Do not bring up the matters of [a term] extension nor [elections] delay anymore,” said President Jokowi in his introductory remarks at the plenary Cabinet session at the State Palace in Jakarta on Tuesday (5/4/2022). The video recording of the meeting was released on Wednesday (6/4).

The President made the statement toward the end of his 11-minute speech. Prior to that, he underscored that global economic turmoil had made the country’s current economic conditions difficult. Fuel prices, for one, had been affected, resulting in a rise in Pertamax fuel prices. Staple foods had also seen a surge in prices. The President then asked all his ministers to focus on monitoring these conditions and implementing the appropriate policies.

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Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) secretary-general Hasto Kristiyanto said the President’s call was in line with the PDI-P’s view that there was no room in the Constitution to postpone the elections. The fact that the President had aides who did not understand his refusal of postponing the elections or an extension of his term had to be noted, he said.

“Especially when this was done through political mobilization. This is equal to not understanding the priorities of President Jokowi’s policies in addressing the people’s main problems due to the pandemic,” he added.

KOMPAS/HERU SRI KUMORO

A banner criticizing the discourse on extending the presidential term on the side of Jalan Deplu Raya, Pesanggrahan, South Jakarta, Sunday (20/3/2022).

Luqman Hakim, who is deputy chairman of House of Representatives Commission II and a member of the Nasdem faction, hoped that all members of the cabinet would abide by the President’s order. This, he said, had to include the cessation of all maneuvers and movements that supported it.

“Do not just stop discussions of a third term but stop any related actions as well. As a reminder, [an amendment to the 1945 Constitution to extend terms in office] would not only benefit the President and his ministers. Even the members of the House and Regional Representatives Council would enjoy an extension of power,” added Charta Politica Indonesia executive director Yunarto Wijaya, who was contacted separately.

Two terms enough

Feri Amsari, the director of Andalas University’s Center for Constitutional Studies, was concerned that President Jokowi’s statement regarding the proposed postponement of the elections and extension of his term would not stop the discourse. He said the discourse would only stop if the President firmly said that two terms were sufficient for him.

“However, the President has never made a statement like that so far,” he said.

Jodi Mahardi, spokesman for Coordinating Maritime Affairs and Investment Minister Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, highlighted that Luhut had complied with the President’s directives.

“Pak Luhut will focus on overseeing the post-pandemic economic recovery and focus on working to solve the difficulties faced by the people as instructed by the President,” he said.

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Luhut had previously led talks on extending the presidential term. Investment Minister/Investment Coordinating Board head Bahlil Lahadalia also once said that the business community supported the extension of President Jokowi’s term and the postponement of the 2024 elections.

Separately, Presidential Chief of Staff Moeldoko said the government had never discussed extending the presidential term or postponing the 2024 elections. He added that the 1945 Constitution limited the president’s tenure in office to only two terms and that this should be the end of the discussion. (WKM/BOW/NIA/PDS)

This article was translated by Kesya Adhalia.