Why did Jokowi Insist on Mentioning that the President Can Campaign and Take Sides?

Statements from high-ranking officials always attract attention, especially when it comes to sensitive and controversial matters. Recently, President Jokowi caused a stir with his statement about campaigning. President Joko Widodo stated that allowing a president and vice president to campaign in general elections is in accordance with the provisions of Law Number 7 of 2017 concerning Elections.

Therefore, Jokowi emphasized that his statement on Wednesday (1/24/2024) regarding the president's ability to support specific candidates and campaign is in accordance with the rules. The Head of State requested that his statement not be misinterpreted.

"Law Number 7 of 2017 clearly states in Article 299 that the president and vice president have the right to campaign, it's clear," said Jokowi in a press conference at Bogor Palace, as broadcasted by the Presidential Secretariat's YouTube channel on Friday (1/26/2024).

Jokowi's statement caught the public's attention and caused a commotion. Negative sentiments arose, accusing Jokowi of showing favoritism towards certain presidential and vice-presidential candidates.

So why did Jokowi make this statement, knowing that it would create a political uproar in the country and could be exploited by political opponents for their own interests?

President Joko Widodo's statement about the president's ability to campaign and take sides aims to debunk the negative framing of the neutrality of state officials leading up to the 2024 elections.

Jokowi wants to emphasize that campaigning by ministers and state officials is actually allowed by law, with various conditions as stated in Law 7/2017 concerning Elections.

Recently, many ministers of the Indonesia Maju Cabinet have been active during the campaign period. President Jokowi wants to clarify that state officials are indeed allowed to campaign, as long as they fulfill the requirements stated in the law.

In moments like these, there can be an ambiguous position, where on one hand, they are state officials, but on the other hand, they also express support for a specific party or candidate.

Therefore, Jokowi's statement regarding campaign rules for the president is a response to allegations made by certain parties, claiming that state apparatuses are not neutral in the 2024 elections. President Jokowi wants to debunk the framing that states if the president takes sides and participates in campaigning, it automatically violates the law and undermines the ethics of neutrality. However, there are already regulations in place.

But it's already the political year, and every statement can be used for various purposes according to the preferences and political interests of certain parties.

For example, the Secretary-General of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) stated that Jokowi's statement is evidence that the number 2 candidate pair, Prabowo Subianto-Gibran Rakabuming Raka, reflects Jokowi's three-term presidency, which has been rejected by PDI Perjuangan along with all pro-democracy groups, intellectuals, scholars, and forces fighting to uphold the constitution.

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