Jokowi: Don't Let Political Affairs In 2024 Disrupt Economic Stability

Capture the screen - President Joko Widodo (left) while attending the Opening of the National Independence Network Rapimnas (Jaman)

JAKARTA - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) said political affairs related to the 2024 election should not interfere with the stability of the domestic economy which has been well maintained.

"I always say that political affairs in 2024 should not disturb our economic stability because if they are disturbed in a difficult world position, sometimes returning them will be very difficult," Jokowi said at the Opening of the National Independence Network Rapimnas (Jaman) as reported by ANTARA, Tuesday, August 29.

According to Jokowi, if domestic economic stability is disrupted in the midst of a global situation that is difficult as it is today, then the recovery efforts taken will be hampered.

Therefore, Jokowi advised all parties to prioritize performance in growing the domestic economy and not to rush into the 2024 election affairs.

Jokowi explained that currently all countries are in a difficult position. Developed countries such as the United States, countries in Europe are also in a difficult position, both from achieving economic growth and controlling the price of goods to counter inflation.

"The prices are all rising high," said Jokowi.

In fact, said Jokowi, there is one country in Europe that experienced an increase in the price of energy commodities such as gas, electricity, and gasoline by up to 700 percent. Jokowi compared it with the slight increase in energy prices in Indonesia, but it could provoke large demonstrations.

Imagine an increase of 700 percent, here an increase of 10-15 percent of the three-month demonstration. That's 700 percent, try to demo how many years. How difficult it is, food prices have doubled, an increase of 50 percent," he said.

However, Indonesia can still maintain inflation in the range of 3.1 percent, and economic growth in the second quarter of 2023 by 5.17 percent. This achievement brought Indonesia including the world's three best.

"Our economic growth in the second quarter yesterday still grew 5.17 percent, including the three best in the world. The current good economy is in the G20 (Group of 20), Indonesia, India, and RRT. The others are very heavy. Once again, the world is full of challenges, be it the food crisis, the energy crisis, both geopolitical," said Jokowi.

The Head of State said that he had just made a working visit to the African continent. Jokowi asked the Indonesian people to be grateful, especially because of the availability of domestic water resources.

"Once I see in Africa now, we should be very grateful. Their water business is very difficult, water is a major necessity, especially food. We should be very grateful," said President Jokowi.