Pros and Cons of President May Campaign and Take Part in 2024 Elections

Jakarta – In the midst of the neutrality of the state civil apparatus (ASN) in the 2024 elections and regional elections in accordance with Law No. 5/2014 on ASN, President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) actually ‘allows’ a head of state to campaign and take sides in the democratic party on February 14, 2024.

“Democratic rights, everyone’s political rights. Every minister is the same. The president may campaign, you may take sides,” Jokowi said when giving a press statement at Halim Perdanakusuma Airport, Jakarta, Wednesday, January 24, 2024.

However, Jokowi emphasized that the president and ministers do not use state facilities. This is because both are public officials as well as political officials. Therefore, the former Governor of DKI Jakarta considered that the president and ministers could play politics.

“We are public officials as well as political officials. You can’t do this, you can’t do politics, you can. Ministers are also allowed,” he added.

When asked how to ensure that the president is not involved in conflicts of interest in the 2024 elections, Jokowi only answered briefly not to use state facilities.

“That’s all, the only thing that regulates is not to use state facilities. That’s all,” he said.

Pros and Cons of Jokowi’s Statement

Infobanknews also tried to trace the responses of officials and observers in the country responding to President Jokowi’s statement that ‘allowed’ a head of state to participate in campaigning and taking sides in the 2024 Election.

Member of the House of Representatives of the Nasdem Party Faction Ahmad Sahroni appreciated the firmness of President Jokowi’s stance in the 2024 Election. However, he questioned the security devices attached to the President’s body.

“Appreciate your firmness. So it’s not gray anymore. But what you said was not to use state facilities for campaigning, right sir? You are the President of the Republic of Indonesia, sir, if you campaign, what will be your inherent security device, sir? However, the President of the Republic of Indonesia must be guarded 24 hours,” wrote Sahroni on his Instagram account @ahmadsahroni88.

Meanwhile, DPR RI candidate from the Indonesian Solidarity Party (PSI) Andy Budiman argued that what Jokowi had done had been done by previous presidents such as Soesilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY) and 44th US President Barack Obama.

“Mr. SBY also used to be a spokesperson for the Democratic Party, which is also his party. Obama when he was president at the end of his term campaigned for Hillary Clinton. If we look at it in the democratic tradition, it’s normal,” Andy was quoted as saying on Instagram @andy_budiman_.

According to him, as President, Jokowi has used his political influence to invite support for candidate number 02. “However, what is not allowed is for the head of state to mobilize the means of power to win the candidate he wants,” he said.

Political Observer Hendri Satrio questioned how the President does not use state facilities when campaigning for a particular pair.

“How can the President not use state facilities, first answer that, does he want to walk, want to drive himself or use his driver who is not Paspampres? Or the official state aide, it’s already difficult (oh my),” he wrote in his X account @satriohendri, Wednesday, January 24, 2024. (*)