Arguing over Impossible Events

Recently, people in the country are being stirred up by three issues: three presidential terms, extending the presidential term, and postponing the 2024 General Election (Pemilu). All three have snowballed, with responses from various parties with diverse stances and interests splitting into two opposing groups.

The groups that support these issues argue that the government, which they deem to have succeeded in overcoming the Covid-19 pandemic and leading the economy towards recovery, is currently facing a rather severe global condition that desperately needs national unity and integrity. It is feared that the 2024 election will cause division at a time when we need unity.

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On the other hand, the groups that oppose the issues are demanding that the government be more assertive in expressing its rejection of the issues, so as not to violate the constitution and descend into an authoritarian regime.

Discourse as human right

Indonesia is a democratic country that upholds human rights (HAM). One indicator of this is the provision of freedom of opinion, expression and discourse, which is known as public discourse.

Likewise, with regard to the public discourse about the general elections, no citizen, including the President, can prohibit this, because it would go against basic human rights as guaranteed in the Constitution.

On this principle, all citizens have the right to speak, and may not be prohibited from doing so except people who intend to incite criminal activity. Likewise, with regard to the public discourse about the general elections, no citizen, including the President, can prohibit this, because it would go against basic human rights as guaranteed in the Constitution.

Therefore, calls for the President prohibit the general public from discussing the issues of extending the presidential term or postponing the general elections are not feasible.

President's response

Some community organizations that oppose postponing the elections and extending the presidential term have speculated or alleged that President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo knew about the political maneuver and had given his blessings to his “close people” to establish a political lobby to support these issues.

It can be said that these allegations and assumptions are inaccurate, because since the beginning of this issue, President Jokowi has responded fairly straightforwardly to the issue of three presidential terms.

Since 2019, President Jokowi has firmly expressed his opposition, stating: "If anyone proposes it [three presidential terms), I think there are three motives: wanting to slap me in the face, doing something

with the intention of getting praise, or wanting to plunge me into something, that's all!" (Kompas, 2/12/2019)

As regards the issue of extending the presidential term, President Jokowi has responded by saying, "I'm not interested." As for the issue of postponing the 2024 General Election, the President said, "I will follow the Constitution."

Even on the most recent occasion, the President instructed Cabinet ministers to not mention postponing the elections or extending the presidential term.

Never happen

The next question is whether the discourse on extending the presidential term or postponing the 2024 elections can be realized. The answer is very clear, that postponing the election, extending the presidential term, or serving three presidential terms are certainly impossible.

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There are four arguments supporting this conclusion.

First, to realize these aims, it is necessary to amend articles in the 1945 Constitution, which requires the support or the will of the majority of members in the People’s Consultative Assembly (MPR). The facts show that the ratio of supporters is small: only three political parties, namely the National Mandate Party (PAN), the Golkar Party, and the National Awakening Party (PKB).

Those that oppose them consist of six political parties, namely the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), the Nasdem Party, the Gerindra Party, the Democratic Party, the United Development Party (PPP), and the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS), plus the Regional Representatives Council (DPD).

Second, there has been no visible activity so far from state institutions, the MPR, or election organizers to set in motion the preparation for changing the election schedule from the existing schedule.

Third, the government is currently concentrating on national economic recovery and Covid-19 mitigation, so there is no desire to turn these issues into a national program.

His prohibiting Cabinet ministers from voicing the issues of extending the presidential term or postponing elections confirms this.

Fourth, we of course know very well that President Jokowi is a national leader who comes from Central Java. The President truly understands a key philosophy of being a leader, as in Javanese is expressed as “sabdo pandito Ratu, tan keno wola-wali”, which means that what a leader has said will never change. His prohibiting Cabinet ministers from voicing the issues of extending the presidential term or postponing elections confirms this.

As a result, it can be concluded from the above arguments that the issues of postponing the elections or extending the presidential term of office will never be realized. They will still be recorded in history as issues that will complete the development of democracy in Indonesia.

Therefore, arguing over the pros and cons, even to the point of holding rallies during the holy month, is a futile activity and will only drain our energy. Because, in the end, it only causes commotion over something that will never happen.

KOMPAS/WISNU WIDIANTORO

Wiranto

Wiranto, Chairman, Presidential Advisory Council

(This article was translated by Hyginus Hardoyo)