Fadli Zon Please Not Postponed The 2024 Election Although The National Economy Suspensions Next Year

JAKARTA - Member of the Indonesian House of Representatives from the Gerindra faction, Fadli Zon, hopes that there will be no delays in the implementation of the 2024 General Election even though the national economy is predicted to slow down in 2023. "I noted, there are several economic issues throughout 2022 that are important to underline. First, our economic growth is not strong enough to support recovery. Moreover, we will again experience a slowdown next year," said Fadli Zon in his statement, Saturday, December 31.

Fadli said that national economic growth has experienced a growth trend above 5 percent since the first quarter of 2022. Consecutive economic growth throughout 2022 is 5 percent (quarter I-2022), 5.4 percent (quarter II-2022), and 5.7 percent (quarter III-2022).

The continued increase in the number of economic growth was driven by an easing of community activities that were stable after the sloping curve of the COVID-19 pandemic. This easing has increased domestic economic activity again.

"On the other hand, we also benefit from the increase in commodity export prices. Unfortunately, the growth driven by the export performance of this commodity does not last long," said Fadli.

In the midst of increasing global uncertainty, he continued, commodity prices also weakened again. Thus, economic growth in the fourth quarter of 2022 fell again, and according to World Bank estimates it would only produce annual growth of around 5.2 percent.

"That too, in 2023 the growth rate is predicted to continue to weaken to 4.8 percent. Even though it is positive, the achievement of 5.2 percent growth during this year is actually not sufficient to be referred to as 'there has been recovery'," said the chairman of the DPR BKSAP.

Second, the poverty rate that has not yet recovered to pre-pandemic levels. Third, Indonesia is increasingly stuck in the middle income trap. Where, the Indonesian economy is expected to be met with uncertainty, especially as a result of rising food and fuel prices for households and businesses.

"Our economy next year is also still overshadowed by external risks in developed countries and China's economic recovery which is weaker than expected," he explained.

However, Fadli reminded, even though objectively the national conditions next year will continue to be haunted by cloudy. However, this condition should not be used as a pretext for anti-democracy discourse such as extending the term of office of the president or postponing elections.

"Next year, the economic situation is bad. However, postponing the election or extending the presidential term is a bad choice that will only worsen the situation," said Fadli.