Reminding There Should Be No Intervention In The 2024 General Election, President Jokowi Asked To Issue A Legal Umbrella

President Jokowi/PHOTO via Instagram @jokowi

Political communication observer at Esa Unggul University, Jamiluddin Ritonga, responded to President Joko Widodo's appeal to warned that there should be no intervention in the 2024 presidential election.

Jamiluddin assessed that Jokowi must also prove his words so as not to appear as a mere appeal. Especially with the alleged violation of the code of ethics committed by the Chief Justice of the Constitutional Court, Anwar Usman regarding the decision on the minimum age limit for presidential and vice presidential candidates.

"The president's request that tends to appeal is not enough. The name of the appeal certainly does not have binding force to force all organizers and related parties not to intervene in the election," Jamiluddin told reporters in Jakarta, Thursday, November 9.

According to Jamiluddin, the president must be concrete by issuing a legal umbrella that will serve as a guide and guideline for all state tools to be neutral in the 2024 General Election.

"The president must be firm by issuing instructions to all parties who have the potential to intervene in the election. The instruction should be followed by severe sanctions for those who ignore the president's instructions," he said.

Jamiluddin then highlighted several special institutions regarding issues of government neutrality, such as BIN, TNI, Polri, ministries, presidential institutions, and local governments.

According to him, the institution needs special attention to obtain instructions from the president to remain neutral because of the potential for abuse to intervene in elections, especially the KPU and Bawaslu.

"If all these institutions receive instructions from the president, at least they will think long about intervening in elections. Especially if the sanctions are given firmly and heavily to those who commit violations," he said.

Apart from government institutions, Jamiluddin assessed that election organizers such as KPU and Bawaslu must also maintain neutrality. Because, he said, it is no secret that the KPU and Bawaslu are still playing eye with election participants.

Therefore, he continued, the president must ensure that the KPU and Bawaslu remain obedient to their duties and functions. That way, the KPU and Bawaslu at all levels are no longer tempted by the invitation of election participants to take non-neutral acts of deviation.

"So, the president is not enough to appeal to related parties not to intervene in the election. The President must issue instructions with strict sanctions to all relevant institutions that have the potential to intervene in the election. Only then can intervention in the election be minimized," concluded Jamiluddin Ritonga.

Previously, President Joko Widodo warned that there should be no intervention in the 2024 presidential election. He also admitted that he was surprised by the many accusations that the government wanted to intervene in the democratic process.

According to Jokowi, on a very large and democratic election scale next year, it will be very difficult to intervene because many elements of society and the apparatus are closely monitoring it.

"Many say that our election is easily intervened, where do we intervene? At each polling station (red) there are party witnesses. Not yet officers near the polling station. What does that mean? This election is very open, can be monitored by anyone, by the public, the media and others. So, don't try to intervene, because it is clearly very difficult, "said Jokowi at the Opening of the National Coordination Meeting for Election Organizers, in Jakarta, Wednesday, November 8.

Jokowi also asked election organizers, namely the Election Organizers Honorary Council (DKPP) to be able to closely monitor the performance of the General Election Commission (KPU) and the Election Supervisory Body (Bawaslu) in the 2024 General Election, by utilizing technology and suggestions and criticism from various elements of society.