When The Discourse On The Extension Of The Presidential Position Period Back Is ImPOSed: Don't Advise The People To Violate The Constitution

Illustration of the discourse on postponing the 2024 General Election and extending the term of office of the President of the Republic of Indonesia. (VOI)

The issue of extending the presidential term through amendments to the 1945 Constitution by the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) has moved since President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) had just served his second term president in 2019.

However, at that time, Jokowi immediately refused. In fact, he considered that the people who raised the discourse only wanted to get attention or had bad intentions towards him.

The discourse on amendments to the 1945 Constitution could be carried out as long as there is limited material, namely reviving the Outline of State Policy (GBHN). However, if it expands everywhere, it is better that there is no need for amendments.

I am a product of direct elections based on the post-reformed 1945 Constitution. My position is clear: I do not agree with the proposed three-term presidential term. The proposal plunged me.

"Currently, it is better for us to concentrate on passing through external pressures that are not easily resolved," Jokowi said on the official account @jokowi in 2019.

When chairing the Plenary Cabinet Session at the State Palace on April 5, 2022, Jokowi also reiterated that no one would voice the extension of the presidential term or the postponement of the election.

Don't cause polemics in society, focus on working in dealing with the difficulties facing the nation today.

Apparently, the president's order was only considered a wind. The issue of postponing the election has blown again. It is no longer by the ministers, as did Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan and Bahlil Lahadalia previously.

This time, it was blown by high state officials. The chairman of the DPD RI, LaNyalla Mahmud Mattalitti, in his remarks at the HIPMI XVII National Conference on November 21, considered that the election had been controlled by one group and had deviated from the free, secret, honest, and fair principle.

"The results have been determined above. Instead of wasting money on the election, it's better to postpone it, I'll just say that," said LaNyalla in his remarks at the XVII HIPMI National Conference on November 21.

Moreover, if you look at President Jokowi's energy, he has overcome the COVID-19 pandemic that has hit Indonesia for 2 years.

"Mr. Jokowi has been in the COVID-19 situation for two years because his COVID-19 situation has not shown the results, which has only been passed for two years, so why not add just two more years for the COVID-19 nebus yesterday," said LaNyalla with a smile.

In fact, in the digital footprint of media coverage, it was LaNyalla who previously asked Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan to stop the postponement of the 2024 General Election and the discourse of a three-term president.

"For the good of the nation and state, I remind you that Coordinating Minister Luhut does not continue this polemic. In addition to violating state regulations, this polemic endangers the Indonesian nation. Indications of public anger will begin to appear if this is continued," said La Nyalla in his statement on April 4, 2022.

In addition to the Chairman of the DPD, the Chairman of the MPR RI Bambang Soesatyo also breathed the discourse of postponement of the election. The momentum of the 2024 Democracy party, according to Bamsoet, is not appropriate because the government is recuperating after the COVID-19 pandemic.

"It must be calculated clearly whether the momentum is right in our era and we are working together on this situation and anticipation, adaptation and global threats such as the economy, natural disasters and so on," said Bamsoet at the release of Poltracking's survey results, Thursday, December 8, as reported by VOI.

Moreover, Bamsoet added, Jokowi's performance was also recognized as successful in dealing with COVID-19. "The G20 is implemented well with various economic policies and other policies as well, so that we are still able to survive 5 percent economic growth."

However, Deputy Speaker of the Indonesian House of Representatives, Sufmi Dasco Ahmad, emphasized that the DPR, government, and KPU had agreed on the process and stages of the 2024 Simultaneous Elections. He ensured that this process would continue until the election time arrived.

"What Mr. Bamsoet said certainly did not necessarily change or automatically the existing stages," said Dasco.

Member of the Indonesian House of Representatives from the Democratic Party faction, Benny K. Harman, considers the statement of the Chairman of the MPR RI to have the potential to cause polemics in the community. The implementation of the 2024 General Election has been determined and must be respected.

If the election is postponed, the DPR, DPD, and the President/Vice President have no more legitimacy. TNI/POLRI do not want to be used to secure a president who has no people's legitimacy. There is no basis and reason to postpone elections other than to remain in power. The constitution coup is very expensive," Benny tweeted on his Twitter account on December 9, 2022.

Benny also admitted that he was proud of the level of satisfaction with Jokowi-Maruf's performance. However, this is not an excuse to extend his term of office and mobilize people's support for 3 periods by crashing into the constitution.

"... Never teach the people to violate the constitution. The constitution is the way of truth and peace," he continued.

Senior economist Rizal Ramli also considers extending the presidential term or postponing the 2024 General Election to be a constitutional coup.

The scenario for the constitutional coup plan was marketed 6-9 months ago, failed to be hit by pro-democracy friends. Now it has been replayed by the Chairman of the DPD and the Chairman of the MPR. Good to be clear about the demarcation line, anyone who betrays the constitution," he tweeted on December 9, 2022.

"Please TNI and BIN monitor tycoons who have and will contribute to the efforts of the Constitutional Coup. They are involved in financing criminal acts," he added.

Managing Director of Political Economy and Policy Studies Anthony Budiawan is of the same opinion, The election must be carried out once every 5 years. Efforts to postpone elections for any reason violate the constitution, enter the category of constitutional coup, including constitutional crimes that can be arrested and punished, as has just happened to the president of Peru.

Executive Director of the Indonesia Political Review, Ujang Komarudin, considers it inappropriate for the Chairman of the DPD and the Chairman of the MPR to launch the discourse. They should side with the people by maintaining the mandate of the constitution, not taking sides with power.

If the reason for the existing budget is limited because it is to tackle COVID, it is just a matter of delaying projects that use the APBN budget.

"Previously, the high-speed train also did not initially take it from the state budget, instead it still took the state budget and swelled. Likewise, IKN, the Constitution is clear, there is no reason to postpone the 2024 election," Ujang told VOI on December 9, 2022.

Whatever the reason, the extension of the president's term of office or postponing the 2024 General Election is a form of betrayal of the constitution. Later, it will be fatal.

"Don't try to form an opinion, look for justification, then it's as if Jokowi's 3 terms or extend Jokowi's position are things that must be done. These are forbidden ways. This is a form of betrayal of reform, betrayal of the constitution, and betrayal of the people. It must be rejected, do not deny democracy," Ujang told VOI on December 9, 2022.

Article 7 of the 1945 Constitution has mandated the President and Vice President to hold office for five years, and thereafter can be re-elected in the same office only for one term.

The rule is the result of the first constitutional amendments on October 14-21, 1999.

Article 22E, Paragraph (1) also states that General Elections are carried out directly, in general, free, secret, honest, and fair once every five years. The rules for holding elections are also strengthened in Article 167 Paragraph (1) of Law Number 7 of 2017 concerning General Elections.